Hon. Alan G. Perkins (Ret.) joins JAMS after 15 years as a judge on the Sacramento Superior Court, with his last eight years spent adjudicating complex litigation matters. Prior to being appointed to the court, Judge Perkins was a business litigator for three decades, specializing in real estate litigation, bankruptcy litigation and other disputes involving creditors’ rights and complex commercial transactions.

During his time on the bench, Judge Perkins handled a wide variety of civil assignments, including complex civil litigation, commercial and residential construction defects, personal injury and wrongful death, employment, probate and family law, California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) cases and other business litigation. From 2013 to 2020, he presided over the Sacramento Superior Court’s complex litigation department, where his duties included case management and trial assignments. While presiding over the complex litigation, he handled a significant number of cases involving commercial or residential construction defects, employment, wage and hour, and PAGA cases. In the summer of 2020, he assisted in the probate department by handling settlement conferences and miscellaneous calendar assignments.

As a neutral, Judge Perkins adds value to the ADR process with his extensive experience conducting settlement conferences and serving as an arbitrator and mediator in commercial and construction-related disputes. He has served as a mediator through the early neutral evaluation panels for both the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California. Before joining JAMS, Judge Perkins was an arbitrator for both private and judicial arbitrations.

Those who have appeared before Judge Perkins have witnessed his preparation, organization and patient demeanor. He is thoughtful in his commentary and thinks deeply about the issues in a case to help the parties resolve their dispute, which has motivated him to continue his ADR practice at JAMS.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Served and assisted the Sacramento Superior Court’s settlement conference department for a variety of civil cases, including construction defect, employment and probate disputes
• Served as a mediator for the early neutral evaluation panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and the Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Program of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District
• Served as a settlement judge pro tem for the Superior Court of Sacramento County
• Served as an arbitrator for both Sacramento and Yolo superior courts, and served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association’s construction and commercial law panels.

Representative Matters

Matters Handled as a Judge

• Handled commercial and residential construction defect cases
• Presided over employment law class actions, wage and hour matters and PAGA cases
• Handled employment discrimination cases, including those involving wrongful termination
• Presided over medical malpractice claims, including cases involving alleged malpractice by neurosurgeons and emergency room physicians
• Handled numerous personal injury cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death arising from:
  • bus rollovers;
  • tire design defects;
  • motorcycle Accidents; and
  • motor vehicle collisions.
• Presided over product liability/design defect class action regarding motorboat design
• Presided over commercial lease and rental disputes
• Handled alleged wrongful foreclosure by residential lender
• Presided over consumer class action regarding newspaper subscription policies
• Presided over small business class action regarding allegations of governmental violation of the Prompt Payment Act
• Presided over trials and handled settlement conferences for probate cases involving:
  • trust disputes;
  • estate administration and accounting disputes; and
  • conservatorship disputes.
• Handled settlement conferences in a variety of civil cases involving construction, insurance coverage, employment and personal injury disputes

Arbitrations Handled

Mediations Handled

• Mediated multiple cases alleging violations of California Labor Code wage and hour laws, including waiting time penalties, failure to pay overtime, meal breaks and rest breaks, and minimum wage claims
• Mediated multiple actions alleging failure to make reasonable accommodations based on disabilities
• Handled settlement conferences in a variety of civil cases involving construction, insurance coverage, employment and personal injury disputes

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Member, Federal Bar Association, Sacramento Chapter, 1990-2005
  • President, Federal Bar Association, Sacramento Chapter, 1995
• Member, American Bar Association, 1974–present  
  • Litigation Section
  • Construction Industry Forum
• Member, Milton L. Schwartz/David F. Levi American Inn of Court, 1993-present
• Member, Sacramento County Bar Association, 1975-2005
  • ADR Section
  • Bankruptcy Section
  • Commercial Law Section
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute, 2020   
• Member, Advisory Board to the Ninth Circuit, 2004–2005
• Member, Magistrate Judge Selection Committee, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2005
• Member, Executive Committee, Ninth Circuit Conference, 2001–2004  
• Member, California Judicial Council, Various Working Groups
  • AB 2073 Mandatory E-Filing Working Group, 2012–2013
  • Court Technology Advisory Committee, 2014–2015
  • Criminal Law Advisory Committee, 2016–2019
  • Information Technology Advisory Committee, 2015–2019
  • Co-Executive Sponsor, Disaster Recovery Workstream, 2016–2018
  • Co-Executive Sponsor, Community Development Workstream, 2018–2020
• Member, Center for Judicial Education and Research, Various Advisory Committees  
• Probate and Mental Health Committee, 2007–2009
• Probate Law Curriculum Committee, 2010–2012
• Member, California Judges Association, 2005-2020
• Civil Law and Procedure Committee, 2012–2014
• Executive Board and Finance Subcommittee, 2014–2017
• Probate and Mental Health Committee, 2014–2017
• Judge, Sacramento Superior Court, 2005–2020
• Member, Education Committee, 2006–2012
• Member, Bail Review Committee, 2006–2007
• Chair, ADR Grant Proposal Committee, Hon. Michael Virga, 2006–2007
• Member, Family Law Committee, 2007–2008
• Member, Civil Division Committee, 2007–2020
• Member, Technology Committee, 2009–2011
• Co-Chair, Technology Committee, 2012–2020
• Member, CCMS Committee, 2011–2012
• Member, New Courthouse Committee, 2010–2020
• Member, Court Executive Committee, 2010–2015
• Member, Case Management System Implementation Workgroup, 2017–2020

Selected Speaking Engagements, Teachings and Lectures

• Adjunct Instructor, Legal Research and Writing, UC Davis School of Law, 1979–1982
• Adjunct Instructor, Trial Practice, UC Davis School of Law, 1980
• Panelist, “Effective Voir Dire in Civil Cases,” California Continuing Education for the Bar Program, 2006
• Moderator, “Basic Civil Trials,” Judicial Training Program, Sacramento Superior Court, 2006–2007     
• Trainer, Fairness and Bias, Pro Tem Judge Education Program, 2006
• Panelist, “As Judges See It: Top Mistakes Lawyers Make in Civil Litigation,” NBI, 2013
• Panelist, “Managing the Complex Construction Defect Case in Sacramento County,” Sacramento County Bar ADR Section, 2014
• Panelist, “Advanced Issues in Complex Cases,” Los Angeles County Bar Association Complex Court Symposium, 2018

Selected Awards and Honors

• Judge of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento Valley Chapter, 2019
• Judge of the Year, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, 2014

Bar Admissions

• California, 1974–present
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1976–2005
• U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 1978–2005
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 1975–2005
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1990–2005
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 1976–2005
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1984–2005

Background and Education

• Judge, Sacramento Superior Court, 2005–2020
• Complex Civil Trials and Case Management, 2013–2020
• Civil and Criminal Trials, 2009–2012
• Family Law/Probate, 2007–2008
• General Trials, 2006
• Misdemeanor DUI Arraignments, 2005
• Attorney; Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney LLP; 1975–2005
• Partner, 1982–2005
• Associate, 1975–1981
• Law Clerk, Hon. Marshall A. Neill, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1973–1975
• J.D., UC Davis School of Law, 1973  
• A.B., University of California, Los Angeles, 1970