DAVID KEITH HICKS
MEDIATOR
David Hicks, APLC,
A Calif. Professional Law Corp.
Licensed in California & New York www.DHicksLaw.com
www.NSMediation.us
P.O. Box 562
Dunsmuir CA 96025
(530) 235-0235
(510) 595-2000
Education: Juris Doctor, University of California at Davis. B.A., Political Science, International Relations, SJSU, 1969, Humanities Honors. Honor Societies in Journalism and Political Science.
Admitted To Practice in California (1972) and New York (ret.); The United States Supreme Court; the United States District Courts for Maine, and all U.S. District Courts of California; Chancery Courts of Delaware and Tennessee (p.h.v.).
Judicial Experience:
- Alameda County Superior Court (1979-2013) paid Temporary Judge; Mediator, Arbitrator, Referee, Special Master; Early Disposition Program Commissioner; Court Appointed Receiver to operate a three-city insurance brokerage; Early Neutral Case Evaluator.
- Contra Costa County Superior Court (two jury trials 1989, 1990), Binding Arbitrator.
- Solano County, Juvenile Court Judge pro tem 1979-1980.
- San Francisco County Superior Court Judge pro tem (appeals).
- Siskiyou County Superior Court, misdemeanor criminal calendar.
- S. District Court Northern District of California, sole binding arbitrator business cases.
- Binding Arbitrator various insurance panels; Medical Malpractice sole arbitrator, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (since 2010). Arbitrated cases since 1982.
- Quasi-Judicial: Special Master, California State Bar; Commissioner, City of Oakland Citizen’s Complaint Board; Commissioner, Alameda County Commission on Personal & Social Responsibility. Fee Arbitration Committee, Alameda County Bar Association.
Professional Standing: Highest rating in Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. California SuperLawyers for several years starting in 2005- (both rate as top 5%). Certificate in Mediation, 2016.
Law Practice Emphasis: Dispute mediation and resolution. Arbitration. Civil business and trial practice. Real estate, defamation, trade libel, business, business tort, elder financial abuse and commercial litigation; contract negotiation, foreign and domestic; product development, protection, registration & licensing; compliance with governmental regulation and related hearings; employment taxation; food, flavor and fragrance industries. Litigation experience in contract, insurance, complex business torts (fiduciary duties; fraud; R.I.C.O.; bad faith; unfair competition, trade secrets, trade libel, civil rights in the commercial context) and other civil litigation arising in the business context. Expert witness services.
Expert Witness: Legal Ethics; Legislative Intent. Qualified and testified as an expert witness on legislative intent, attorneys’ fees and legal malpractice (plaintiff & defense). Paid Consultant to United States Attorney’s office re: fee application defense; assistance to Nevada Attorney General re: drafting child labor laws.
Courtroom advocacy: Deputy Attorney General, California Dept. of Justice, 1972-1973; Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County 1974-1978; Civil litigation 1978 to present.
Community leadership and activities: Superior Court of California Speaker Outreach Program, Bench Bar Speakers Bureau; Emeryville Chamber of Commerce (Em Pac—won 72% of vote re Pixar Expansion in Emeryville, 2004), Oakland Chamber of Commerce committees: Small Business Advocacy; Planning & Construction; Paul Harris Fellow, Director for Oakland Rotary (Chaired Committees on: Youth Services; By-Laws; Ethics; President’s Special; member World Community Service Committee). Multiple Honoree for Rotary Foundation; Marcus Foster Institute for the Oakland Public Schools (founder, Role Model Task Force; Principal for a Day; Career Week); Director, and pro bono publico Legal Counsel since 1982, Modern Greek Studies Foundation, San Francisco. Blue Star Mothers of California (with children on active duty overseas). Member American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter (Urban Design Committee, Presidio Project). Member, Media Alliance. Member, Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, Inc. (Committees: Management Information Services; Vice-Chairman, Human Services); Director, Lincoln Child Center; City of Oakland Long-Range Planning Conference participant. City of Oakland Police Review Board.
Teaching, Lectures, Seminars: Frequent MCLE instructor for various organizations. Guest Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies; Teaching Ass’t., Univ. of Calif., Davis: Scientific Bias & Social Myth; Guest lecturer, Law School; Adjunct Professor of Law, J.F.K.U.(6 years); Core Lead Instructor initial year of its paralegal program, U.C. Berkeley; Lecturer, Calif. Highway Patrol Academy, Chabot College. Tax Free Exchanges, C.A.R., Commercial Free Speech under the First Amendment; Address to the California Society of Enrolled Agents: Independent Contractor or Employee–Guess Wrong and You’re Out of Business; Numerous seminars for lawyers through Consumer Attorneys of California, Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, and California Trial Lawyers Association (partial list: Expert Witnesses; Effective Fee Applications; Evidentiary Problems; Recovering Fees in Business Related Civil Rights Litigation in State Courts; Attorneys Fees). Ethics in Business, 2005; numerous other lectures.
Honors: 2005 and 2009 Honoree, Modern Greek Studies Foundation; 2009 Honoree, City of Millbrae; Honorary member Hellenic Law Society; Honorary Member, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. State Bar of California Wiley Manuel Award (twice), State Bar Board of Governor’s Commendation for Outstanding Contributions in Legal Services; Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry. Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, for International Humanitarian Service.
Interests: Student of Iaido in the Jikiden Eishin Ryu. Rotary Arts Award (authored a performed stage play). Member, East Bay Blues Society’s official band: Caravan of All Stars (various Blues Festivals). Argentine tango instructor with spouse. Tango stage performances 2002, 2005, 2012.