JUDGE MICHAEL J. BERGER

ADR EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
Since his appointment to the bench seven years ago, Judge Berger has developed a particular expertise in employment law and wrongful termination, complementing his broad personal injury experience. In addition to legal and medical malpractice matters, Judge Berger's expertise includes partnership dissolution, premises liability, wrongful death, products liability , and commercial litigation.

Judge Berger brings a relaxed and "knowledgeable" mediation style to the matter at hand. His integrity and fairness in the handling of disputes has produced numerous settlements.

He has completed ADR training in Judicial Mediation Training - Employment Law Update, Pepperdine Univ. (1994); served as: a Superior Court Arbitrator, S.F., Marin, Sonoma & Contra Costa (1978-1991); Judicial Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association (1978-1991); and Commissioner ProTem - Juvenile, San Francisco Superior Court.

BACKGROUND
Prior to his appointment, Judge Berger was a trial lawyer in San Francisco for approximately thirty years, specializing in personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, as well as general commercial litigation. Judge Berger was Of Counsel to Law Office of James Duryea, Jr.; Partner, Hallinan, Berger & Osterhoudt; Partner, Weinstein, Welsh & Berger; Associate, Law Offices of James Martin MacInnis and Conrad Donner.

Clients ranged from plaintiffs, such as 52 survivors of the People's Temple massacre, to premises liability defendants, such as the Hop Sing Tong (Chinatown's largest benevolent association). Jury trials included all types of civil matters, wrongful death, personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, wrongful termination, trade libel and commercial litigation.

EDUCATION & MEMBERSHIPS
Faculty, San Francisco Law School; Instructor, University of California - Hasting College of Advocacy; B.A., 1958, Cornell University - Phi Beta Kappa; LL.B., Harvard Law.