William J. Diffenderfer, Esq. joined WDRC in January 2009. Mr. Diffenderfer’s experience with Alternative Dispute Resolution begins with literally hundreds of mediations/arbitrations over a 25 year career as a civil litigator. He has been privileged to assist scores of litigants and their attorneys resolve disputes as Mediator and has served as appointed Arbitrator in numerous matters.

Mr. Diffenderfer’s civil litigation background and expertise includes:
* Automobile/motorcycle/truck/bicycle and pedestrian accidents
* Premises liability, dog bite
* Public entity liability
* Product liability, food contamination
* Toxic exposure
* Professional liability including Medical Malpractice and claims for malpractice involving insurance agents and brokers, realtors, architects and engineers
* Construction Defect
* Real Estate
* Landlord Tenant
* Defamation and Privacy claims
* False Imprisonment, Assault and Battery
* Contract and business disputes
* Work and construction site injuries
* Property Damage including fire loss, flood, crop and timber loss
* Insurance

Mr. Diffenderfer’s civil litigation career began in 1982 with one of the largest law firms in Contra Costa County. Sixteen years later and after ten years in the firm’s partnership, he began work as an attorney for a national insurance company. He was thereafter selected to manage company legal offices in San Francisco, San Jose and in 2008 (on an interim basis) New York City. He has successfully tried cases to juries in various Bay Area Counties and his legal work has taken him to California Courts from San Diego to Eureka, the California Court of Appeals and Federal District Court.

Mr. Diffenderfer has served as continuing education presenter on a variety of topics to attorneys, paralegals, medical practitioners and claims organizations. He serves as an ADR panel member and Day of Trial Settlement Mentor in several counties.

Mr. Diffenderfer’s approach to mediation is relational and practical. He understands that parties to mediation must trust his ability to serve their interests to resolve disputes. In that connection his expertise in civil litigation and a casual but direct communication style combine to bring the parties to a meaningful exchange of information, productive discussion of settlement possibilities, negotiation, and resolution.

Mr. Diffenderfer is available for mediation, arbitration, Special Master and discovery referee services throughout California.
Rates: For all mediation and arbitration, $290 per hour including review and study time, split between the participating parties. Due 30 days from billing. No set-up or administrative fees.