Susan Feder brings a creative, flexible and effective approach to conflict resolution.
What I Do Whatever it Takes
I tailor my approach to each situation. I listen carefully to find the best path to success. I come well prepared for the case at hand. When necessary, I follow up relentlessly. I engage with the parties, as well as with counsel, to discover any hidden issues fueling the dispute. I am optimistic and keep a positive attitude. I work hard before, during and after the mediation to obtain the best results.
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Representative Cases Getting Results
Personal Injury
Incident involving NEIGHBORS’ OFF LEASH DOG that charged plaintiff’s dog while walking in the neighborhood. Plaintiff fell during the altercation and sustained a fractured tibia. Thereafter, she developed shoulder pain from long term use of crutches. Issues discussed included NEGLIGENCE PER SE for violation of County Leash Law. more
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE action in which plaintiff sought damages from her provider for a FACIAL BURN caused by a laser treatment administered by nurse practitioner. Plaintiff’s damages included claims for emotional distress, anxiety and depression over the appearance of a facial scar. more
REAL PROPERTY CASES
Neighbor TREE DISPUTE case in which competing interests of VIEW RESTORATION and privacy / enjoyment of property were mediated. Discussion and evaluation were governed by a local ordinance addressing Tree Dispute Resolution. Plan of action was agreed upon by the parties
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FAMILY DISPUTES
Plaintiff sued former business partner for FRAUD and misappropriation of business, claiming that defendant forced her out of the business and deprived her of PROFITS she was due. Plaintiff also had a claim for EMOTIONAL DISTRESS based on defendant’s having filed a police report against plaintiff, which resulted in her wrongful arrest. more
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Pre litigation claim for BREACH OF CONTRACT by INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR who provided financial services advice to private school. Contractor claimed that oral agreement was reduced to writing and was breached by employer/school. School counter-claimed that contractor’s work was inadequate and resulted in loss of profits to the school. more
EMPLOYMENT
SEXUAL HARASSMENT claim by employee for inappropriate conduct by co-worker and inadequate investigation of such conduct by employer. Employee claimed that she was required to change her schedule and job description, whereas co-worker suffered no adverse consequences as a result of the INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT. more
CIVIL RIGHTS
Customers claimed that they were targeted by store and required to leave by POLICE ESCORT when they were mistaken for shoplifter. Customers claimed that adverse treatment was RACIALLY MOTIVATED and DISCRIMINATORY and that they suffered shame and negative financial consequences as a result.
News The Latest
Let’s Make a Deal: How to Negotiate Like An Expert (Meeting)
I am presenting with the ADR and Litigation Sections of the Marin County Bar on March 25 for an informative and entertaining discussion titled “Let’s Make a Deal; How to Negotiate Like an Expert”. Registration Information below. Hope to see you there!
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Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
As I write this month’s president’s message, the election has not yet happened. However, election day will have come and gone by the time you read this. So many questions challenge me now. How will we be feeling on the morning of Nov. 4? What will the vote count be, and how will the electoral college map look? Since 1797, every president has peacefully handed over power to the next. Fearing a loss, the current president has consistently raised the specter of a disputed election. What might happen if he refuses to accept the results?
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Voting Rights: Let All Our Voices Be Heard
Last month, our nation celebrated the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment boldly proclaims that, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The road to this amendment was long and difficult. The organized movement began in 1848 at the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. While the faces of the many courageous women who fought for its passage were diverse, the new law did not benefit all women. Black women and other women of color had to wait another 45 years until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be able to exercise their right to vote.
Continue readingTestimonials What People Say
“Thanks, Susan. I can certainly see why you are in demand as a mediator. You did a wonderful job whether the case settles or not. I so appreciate your service as does my client.”
- Plaintiff counsel in personal injury/dog bite lawsuit.
“Thank you for your persistence in getting the parties to agree on a settlement that took care of the multiple claims. With the number of parties and personalities involved (and the math problems) that was a difficult challenge. Your assistance was much appreciated.”
- Defense counsel in multi-party auto accident case.
“Susan, Thank you so much for your hard work on this case. We appreciate your efforts in bringing this to a successful conclusion.”
- Defendant’s General Counsel in Insurance Coverage action.
“Reflecting further on our day yesterday and the thought recurs: you are very good at what you do. Thank you for your important contribution to the resolution of this matter, and I certainly feel very good about recommending your services and working with you again in the future.”
- Defense counsel in Commercial Real Estate Lease case.
“I cannot thank you enough for all you did yesterday for my client. I could not have been happier with the results. I also know my client and her friend were happy, and they loved meeting you and having you be their mediator.”
- Plaintiff counsel in personal injury case.
“I have had the pleasure of mediating several cases with Susan Feder and have found her to be an effective neutral that is inventive in her strategies to bring the parties to an agreement. She has repeatedly demonstrated excellent insight in the case strengths and weaknesses, and leverages those to craft an acceptable resolution.”
- Defense counsel in auto accident personal injury case.
“I am writing to share my experience with Ms. Feder as a neutral in an employment lawsuit. I am a solo practitioner that represents employees in Southern and Northern California. I value early ADR assessment but must balance that with the comparative costs of ten to twenty thousand (in some cases) of a daily rate for a neutral. Ms. Feder’s reasonable rate structure in addition to her effective diligence was without comparison. I particularly appreciated the follow up in a difficult mediation session that did not settle. Within two business days (one including a holiday), Ms. Feder had followed up with both sides to confirm a resolution. I find her analysis fair and balanced and would select Ms. Feder both on the defense and plaintiff side. Ms. Feder also brought sector-specific sensitivity to a type of defendant entity which aided all parties in recognizing a practical and reasonable approach to the dispute. I hope to have an opportunity to work with Ms. Feder in the future.”
- Plaintiff counsel in employment dispute.
“Thank you for all of your hard work yesterday and for sticking with us today to get this wrapped up. I look forward to working with you again in the future.”
- Defense counsel in employment dispute.
“Susan Feder is an exceptional mediator. I worked with Susan on a personal injury matter with numerous challenges and obstacles. She was able to successfully bring the opposing parties together and settle a very difficult case. She listened carefully to both sides and provided invaluable guidance and feedback throughout the mediation. The mediation proceeded flawlessly from beginning to end. I highly recommend Susan Feder.”
-Plaintiff counsel in auto accident personal injury case.
“I have had the pleasure of mediating several cases with Susan Feder and have found her to be an effective neutral that is inventive in her strategies to bring the parties to an agreement. She has repeatedly demonstrated excellent insight in the case strengths and weaknesses, and leverages those to craft an acceptable resolution.”
-Defense counsel in auto accident personal injury case.
“Thanks Susan. We really enjoyed working with you and you did a superb job of getting this one resolved”.
- Plaintiff counsel in employment dispute
“Susan, I appreciate your hard work yesterday. I did not think that the case had a chance of settling but you did a great job with plaintiff. I look forward to working with you again soon”.
-Defense counsel in personal injury/auto case.
“Susan Feder is an exceptional mediator. I worked with Susan on a personal injury matter with numerous challenges and obstacles. She was able to successfully bring the opposing parties together and settle a very difficult case. She listened carefully to both sides and provided invaluable guidance and feedback throughout the mediation. The mediation proceeded flawlessly from beginning to end. I highly recommend Susan Feder”.
-Plaintiff counsel in personal injury/auto case.
“[Susan] did an amazing job bringing both sides together and getting this difficult matter settled”.
-Defense counsel in PI case.
“Thanks for all the grit, determination and stamina. You’re at the top of our list for mediations and referrals to colleagues.”
-Defense counsel in business dispute involving former partnership.
“Thank you so much for your extraordinary assistance. I have done many hundreds of mediations, but have never encountered anyone with your skill set and dedication. I will recommend you to anybody who will listen!”
-Plaintiff counsel in business dispute involving former partnership.
“Susan, you were fantastic yesterday .. we are spreading your name around to our firm and our friends.. thanks for spending to time to get to know (my client) and his family”
-Plaintiff counsel in personal injury case alleging traumatic brain injury from assault.
"I recently took on a case that had challenges on liability, causation, damages, and client control. The defense knew it. This was not a recipe for success, but I believed in the case, and knew that the right neutral at the right time could help achieve a fair result. Susan Feder was the perfect choice. Her persistence and creativity created the breakthroughs that allowed the case to not just resolve, but to achieve an excellent result for my clients. Maybe even more importantly, Ms. Feder found ways to reassure my clients that they were being truly “heard,” and had a voice in the mediation process. In the end, my clients were able to walk away happy with the result AND happy with me. I look forward to working with Ms. Feder again.”
- Plaintiffs’ counsel in premises liability case
"Susan’s expertise, intelligence, humor and commitment were the key to bringing both sides together in what seemed like an impossible feat. She worked tirelessly to eventually forge a settlement, which was most impressive. Susan was terrific and her tenacious efforts were most admirable; our number one ‘go to’ mediator!"
- Los Angeles area plaintiff’s counsel in medical malpractice case.
"Susan is an extremely effective mediator who obtains highly satisfactory outcomes for embattled litigants. She is intelligent, dedicated, hard-working, and ethical. Susan has superb people skills and works hard to help the parties achieve a settlement. Her optimism helps the parties enjoy the process and feel good about their resolution."
- Bay Area retired supervising judge
"Susan Feder has the admiration and respect of those who know her. Her combination of intelligence, common sense and people skills is exactly what mediation needs."
- Bay Area plaintiff’s personal injury counsel and law school mediation professor.
"Your persistence and grace under pressure were appreciated, and because of your approach we were able to settle this matter right before trial. I am happy to recommend your mediation services in the future!"
- Bay Area plaintiff’s counsel in construction defect and personal injury case
"Susan continued to work with the parties while discovery progressed. She was invested in the process, knew the issues and was committed to achieving a fair result. Susan reached out to the parties at regular intervals despite being told over and over that the case was not going to resolve. Susan ultimately proved us wrong by settling the case via phone two weeks before trial. It was a great result and I would absolutely use her services again."
- Bay Area insurance counsel in product defect subrogation action.
“Thanks for doing a great job, with a really fine result for our plaintiff clients. You have a real talent for listening and great emotional intelligence. I recommend my team of lawyers use you for future cases.”
-SF Plaintiff lawyer in Landlord tenant dispute
“Susan did an excellent job navigating a complicated family dynamic to reach a settlement for my client. She was persistent and impressive in her follow up efforts with both sides. I look forward to mediating with her again soon!”
-Plaintiff counsel in premises liability case
“Thank you, Susan, for a great job on our tenant habitability suit!”
-Plaintiff counsel in landlord tenant case
"The parties would like the Court to know that Ms. Feder’s dedication and attention to this matter and her skill as a mediator were key elements in getting the parties to this settlement in principle. After the first half-day Settlement Conference, she volunteered for a second day, which lasted from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and then participated in several phone calls (one lasting an hour) and numerous email exchanges. She is to be commended for her efforts."
- Both counsel in construction/neighbor dispute Court matter
"I again want to thank you for all the time you spent working with the attorneys, parties and carriers in this case. You went above and beyond and you helped the Court save resources by now leaving a trial department available for a different case. Your work is greatly appreciated!"
- San Francisco Superior Court ADR Department
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I mediate in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
