I entrusted JAMS ADR with a serious medical malpractice arbitration. What I got was not justice--it was a rigged performance. The arbitrator, retired Justice Candace Cooper, failed to disclose a prior substantial relationship with defense counsel--a clear conflict under California law. Her silence? Not just unethical--fraud by omission. After winning every issue on a summary judgment motion days earlier, the same evidence was suddenly denied at hearing. Critical exhibits were excluded, a key impeachment witness was blocked, and when I lost my attorney, I was denied even a short continuance. Worse: the party arbitrator falsely claimed the ruling required a unanimous vote, then signed a majority award that ignored key facts she herself cited. So much for integrity. JAMS isn't neutral--it protects corporate repeat players who can afford Cooper's $50,000/day fee. Consumers are left voiceless in a process that feels more like theater than justice. Transparency? Gone. Due process? Denied. Justice? Not even close. Avoid JAMS at all costs. read more

Jams - This Defense Expert, Promotes Aggressive Turbinate Removal -- Without Clear Medical Justification. - Legal Services Near Me - Irvine, California

I wish I'd seen the reviews here before pursuing JAMS. This review is not from the loser of a mediation. The reality is that neither party got anywhere with this JAMS mediation. What a scam. Thousands of dollars. Mediator (a very seasoned judge who looked great on paper) admitted they were not qualified for our case, but proceeded anyway. Spent our precious time talking about a completely unrelated documentary film. Did nothing more than relaying back and forth what each party said. Total waste. read more

I made the mistake of entrusting JAMS ADR with a life-altering medical malpractice arbitration. What I walked into was not justice; it was a privatized betrayal. Presiding arbitrator Candace Cooper, a retired Court of Appeal Justice, concealed a prior relationship with defense counsel--a glaring conflict that should have disqualified her under California law. Instead of disclosing it, she took the case, took the money, and took away my rights. This wasn't an oversight. It was fraud by silence, and it corrupted the entire process from the start. Material medical evidence? Excluded. A key impeachment witness? Barred. A request for a short continuance after my attorney withdrew? Denied. I was forced to go it alone, outnumbered, outgunned, and deliberately silenced in a rigged tribunal that masqueraded as justice. But it gets worse. The party arbitrator falsely represented that any ruling would require a unanimous vote. That was a lie. When it came time to rule, she signed a majority award riddled with omissions and contradictions--including evidence she herself acknowledged during the hearing. She sold out the process she was supposed to safeguard. Let's be blunt: this isn't alternative dispute resolution--it's corporate protection racketeering in black robes. JAMS caters to its repeat players, charges $50,000/day for "neutrality," and buries the rights of victims beneath a mountain of biased procedure and hidden affiliations. This isn't a courtroom. It's a casino. And the house always wins. If you're a consumer thinking about using JAMS, ask yourself: would you pay tens of thousands of dollars to walk into a hearing where the fix is already in? Because that's exactly what happened to me. read more

If could give zero stars I would. **zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero** Please, if possible, avoid this arbitration facility like the plaque. The only thing I can say nice about this place is the facility itself. Otherwise JAMS is a COMPLETE JOKE!!! This place is an example of how to overcharge for services rendered leaving complete devastation in its wake. A financial drain with retired judges (some with questionable past and present professional decisions that are easily found with a quick internet search) who have no problem allowing shady used car sales men, aka 'attorneys,' drag out what should be quick a process. My experience with JAMS Orange County, CA has left me a horribly foul taste in my mouth and a complete distrust with the legal system and its ability to be impartial. Buyer beware! read more

Please rethink using this service. It was incredibly expensive and not at all helpful. Everyone sings the praises, but that is because they are likely profiting from the use of this system. If you are familiar with the story of the Emperors New Clothes, then you will understand what you are signing up for. We spent $17k !! Most expensive lunch ever. read more

Hired Judge Miller to mediate my divorce, was advised by my lawyer that this could speed up the resolution. It was a complete waste of time, in large part because the Judge wasted unbelievable amounts of time on items that were not relevant to getting at the core of the resolution. Her view was my ex 'wouldn't accept' the proposed custody schedule (she ultimately did). Someone with her experience I would have expected her to see through these tactics from opposing counsel and laying out reality for everyone, so we avoid more litigation and more fees. Would not recommend. read more

A waste of time and money. Judge was more interested habout bragging about himself. He didn't even use a pen or paper to take notes. On the plus side the building is beautiful and the buffet wasn't bad. The receptionists were friendly. read more

When a MAN tells me something, he should be honorable and keep his word . Biafore told both myself and Kaiser's attorneys we could call or email him anytime with questions. Well after 2 attempts and 3 reprimands , This retired judge is not a man of his word. Just 2 months into this BS session, and the "judge" is already biased for Kaiser. I asked for permission to use a foreign expert, and MAN doesn't even have the BALLS to reply himself. Then I was told that Kaiser comes first and he is waiting for their next move before he will allow me to continue.... Totally BIASED , and the little guy gets screwed. Then also in the rules of Arbitration, the parties are supposed to exchange documents, but NO , of course not. I simply asked for copies that the hack surgeon had certification for operating on nerves ... Even though I know he doesn't. Thanks Kaiser for leaving nearly unable to walk and never do things I did before your hackjob. Disgusting how we have no rights and we always get screwed . read more

My daughter was advised to hire a private judge claiming that it will take less time to get a divorce and it will be more cost-effective than the Judge assigned to her case by the court. Judge Sonenshine from JAMS was hired as a private judge by my daughter's ex-husband's attorney and her attorney, she didn't have much say in the matter. During my daughter's case, Judge Sonenshine spent most of her time on her cellphone reading her email and texts during important hearings and showed no interest in really learning and understanding the case. When my daughter's attorney illegally signed orders on her behalf without her approval she was forced to let him go. During this time my daughter was acting on her own behalf until she could find another lawyer that would take her case. Judge Sonenshine didn't intervene when the opposing counsel bombarded my daughter with endless threatening orders. During the first hearing when my daughter was acting as pro se due to not having an attorney and the other side forcing a mandatory hearing, Judge Sonenshine did not let my daughter speak for herself even though she had a professionally prepared defense with solid evidence and facts. Judge Sonenshine muted her as if she did not even exist in the hearing. My daughter wasn't granted any time to find a suitable attorney and had to hire the first available lawyer that would take her case quickly. This put my daughter at an even more disadvantage as that attorney was highly incompetent, unorganized and so ill-prepared the Judge had little to no respect for her. During this change of attorneys, my daughter's ex hired an attorney that my daughter had previously consulted with and it so happened that his attorney was also friends with the Judge. They even went to the same Synagogue and participated in the same services. They were quite chummy in the hearings and the lack of parity in the case was quite evident. My daughter mentioned in her deposition that she consulted with her ex's attorney and that there was a conflict of interest yet it fell on deaf ears. The Judge didn't read, nor address my daughter's deposition nor her previous attorney's deposition where he admitted to mistakenly signing an order that the prenup was valid. My daughter submitted dozens of signatures to a handwriting specialist clearly showing that the signature on the prenup isn't hers. Yet Judge Sonenshine disregarded it all and claimed that because my daughter's new attorney was a day late in contesting the signed order by her previous attorney that the order will stand. Judge Sonenshine refused to see valid evidence presented in hearings, she allowed her ex to continue to transfer marital assets to his new accounts. Judge Sonenshine didn't address any of the many ATROS violations her ex did during the course of the divorce. Judge Sonenshine failed to sign off on the QUADRO and was unreachable after signing the settlement agreement that I negotiated with my then-son-in-law. We were forced to take the QUADRO documents to court to have another judge sign off on it. Judge Sonenshine is unfit to make serious life decisions that impact those who were locked out of their means other than to pay her high wages for nothing but more grief and debt. read more

Ive never been one for higher floors (had an interview on the 20th once during the Northridge aftershocks) but wonder if the mediation companies choose the upper levels so if the case doesn't go your way, you can jump with surety of success. The whole floor is dedicated to JAMS and the environment very soothing. Parking is odd -- visitors park in the lot. My GPS was confused so if you see an entrance for Embassy Suites, take it and don't do the illegal U-turn. Lunch will be provided. For a party of 8 that's $694 per sandwich. Don't get me wrong. They're damn tasty. read more

Jams - View of Angels Stadium - Legal Services Near Me - Irvine, California

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Liked convenient parking, thoughtful veggie lunch, decaf latte tea and coffee options, roomy meeting space, pleasant staff and mediators. Good coordination by Jo and Denise. Good mediation by Judge Smith. Sorry to say not every case they get settles, but lots do. Thankfully they help facilitate civilized communication. read more

Friendly atmosphere, nice facility. That's it! This is a store front for "private judges" to legally extort your life savings, your children's College education money and your retirement fund while the judge and your attorney line their pockets with your past, present and future. It is important to know that unlike active judges, there is no judicial review council to regulate private judge behavior. They are exempt and have no accountability. You cannot fire them, unless they agree to it. I have have been hostage to Jams for 4 years during my divorce. Myself and my children have been emotionally and financially devastated by a private judge protected within the walls of Jams. Our children have been stripped of their college educations and Got the age of 55, I am now heavily in debt As per the order of Jams private judge.. I watched the judge give away my family home of 17 years twhile refusing to look at my well researched and prepared discovery. I was ordered to use my retirement IRA for judicial, fees, Jams, and attorney fees. I was ordered to continue with an attorney that was not competent and then helped herself escrow $ with the judges knowledge and without being reprimanded. I watched my ex manipulate, lie, cheat, withhold discovery repeatedly without sanctions while our case was continued for 4 years (until all the $ was gone). I did not have the requested discovery going into settlement. Our children are left without protection of the court. Court orders have been repeatedly violated and this is still a continual occurrence with the judge's full knowledge. There is a great injustice taking place within the walls of Jams and there is no recourse. I do not recommend Jams or Judge Jonathon Cannon. Sent from my iPhone read more

Dr Wieben Stock had zero energy to put into a day long mediation. She stated from the start she would basically try to get the dollar amount to somewhere in the middle, regardless of the particulars of the case. She did not even attempt to use her legal skills. A cashier at 7-11 could split the difference and come up with a dollar amount, I thought hiring a judge would bring a bit more expertise to the matter. read more

Extremely overpriced. Our judge dragged the case much too long, unnecessarily. I felt a great lack of interest in my case, lack of concern of my financial status, general bias decisions. I agree with Patty A. This is a shakedown. Once you're locked in with private judge J.C., you can't get out. Bancruptcy! Thank you very much, while ex is living large! read more

The lamest legal experience of my life. The mediator, retired Judge Kennedy was disinterested, anemic and impotent. Unfocused, and cast a very bad pall over the entire reason for mediation. Left the session early because he was "tired". What a shameful waste of my time and hard earned money. $3350 would have been better spent at a Roulette table. Mr. Kennedy cheapens the reasoning and atmosphere behind the mediation experience. read more

Out of sight fees. Also, 75% of the time, our mediator engaged in small talk, unrelated to the case, running up the bill. We mistakenly let our attorney set this up instead of taking control and choosing our own ADR firm. JAMS, I'm told is the highest price firm out there. Pure greed! Just another attorney based revenue circle. read more