Ralph O. Williams, Esq.

• Mediated a case in which the plaintiffs were principals of a sold engineering firm and closed a defined benefit pension plan. A government audit assessed money due and the plaintiffs sued the plan for mishandling the audit.
• Mediated a dispute involving a Chinese rare coin collector who sued an auction house for losing 17 rare Chinese coins. Defendant claimed the coins were seized by Chinese Customs as legacy coins. Recovery was limited to insurance.

• Mediated a property insurance case involving water leaking through a garage roof and ground water seeping in, leading to $50,000 in repairs. Defendant claimed that there were surface water and defective construction exclusions.
• Mediated a property matter regarding water loss on a nine-story office building, from the 8th floor to the basement, with an issue replacing hollow clay blocks used for the walls.
• Mediated a matter in which a broker was sued by a contractor for failure to purchase completed operation coverage with 2007 retroactive date; a mis-installed toilet supply line failed causing a flood, and remediation contractor overloaded the circuit causing a fire.
• Mediated a matter involving an E & O insurance agent who reviewed the $2.7 million policy covering an ancient Roman artifact and allegedly did a poor job, failing to schedule floater insurance. A promoter subsequently stole the artifact and claims paid $1.6 million.
• Mediated a case involving a Cumis counsel who sued insurer and client for fees and bad faith.

• Mediated a dispute involving bowling alley owners who sued their insurer for failure to pay a partial collapse claim. The insurer defendant claimed that there was no collapse and there was a wear and tear exclusion.
• Mediated a dispute involving a property insurance burglary and vandalism at a glasses store, in which Plaintiff claimed there was slow payment on the BI claim and Defendant claimed that all benefits were paid.
• Mediated a case regarding a fire and pipe break involving claims of a homeowner against the carrier regarding slow payment, the scope of the repairs, pricing, and the length of additional living expense issues.
• Mediated a case regarding a music distributor, who licensed a song from the original artist, then relicensed the song in Europe, and was sued by the original artist for breach of contract and royalties tendered to media E&O.

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• Mediated a matter in which a clerk at a logistics company was terminated at the end of disability leave for not returning. Plaintiff claimed his doctor sent notice extending the leave to the disability insurer. Plaintiff asserted interactive process survived termination and reinstatement would be a form of accommodation.
• Mediated a matter regarding a vice president of sales of a court reporting and records storage company who claimed retaliation for complaining about bonus contra to offer letter.
• Mediated a sexual harassment claim by an illegal immigrant who worked as a bookkeeper and was allegedly forced to have sex with boss.
• Mediated a matter regarding a mechanic/equipment operator who sued for disability discrimination, having been fired after returning from leave with continuing restrictions. Defendant claimed that Plaintiff was fired for poor attendance.
• Mediated a matter in which Plaintiff, a hotel desk clerk, sued for age discrimination and retaliation for wage complaints and being a witness for other plaintiffs. Defendant claimed that there was no notice and no complaints, and that Plaintiff was a poor performer and could not learn the new computer system.

• Mediated a breach of fiduciary duty in a family law matter. The husband, a well-known tort lawyer, ordered his trial counsel to try the 15-day trial without continuances. The trial counsel was sick and the case continued. When the trial was to restart, the husband appeared in pro per and appealed an order appointing minor’s counsel vacating his trial date.

• Mediated a case involving a four-car automobile accident. Plaintiff had a history of chronic pain and fibromyalgia, and suffered back, neck, and shoulder injuries, three of which resulted in surgeries.
• Mediated a wrongful death matter in which the Plaintiff was an undocumented farmhand helping with an unguarded posthole digger. Plaintiff swung on his support arm to force the digger into hard ground, Plaintiff’s hoodie tangled in the drive shaft, and Plaintiff was pulled in and killed.

• Handled a case in which a condo owner sued the homeowners’ association and the condo insurer for damages from two water intrusion events.
• Mediated a dispute involving a buyer who sued a seller for the specific performance of a four-unit property. The broker for the matter was brought into the case by both parties on cross-complaints with a dual agency theory.