Skip to main content
Download VCard
VCard
Hon. Coleman A. Swart (Ret.)

Hon. Coleman A. Swart (Ret.)

MediatorArbitratorReferee/Special MasterNeutral EvaluatorHearing OfficerTemporary Judge/Judge Pro Tem
Availability:
General Biography
Practice Areas
Business/Commercial
Class Action/Mass Torts
Construction Defect
Construction
Employment
Estates/Probate/Trusts
Personal Injury/Torts
Professional Liability
Real Property
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Background and Education

Hon. Coleman A. Swart (Ret.) is a skilled mediator and arbitrator who brings to JAMS 25 years of experience as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. During his time on the bench, attorneys hailed his knack for resolving cases early in the process, the result of an innovative and hands-on approach that included mandatory settlement conferences and pretrial evaluations. Experienced in resolving cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury, employment, business, and construction disputes, Judge Swart is lauded for his fair-mindedness and firm grasp on complex legal issues.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

  • In his first year on the Superior Court bench, Judge Swart reduced the backlog of criminal cases using pretrial evaluations that often led to settlements
  • As a civil trial judge, he required mandatory settlement conferences and was widely known for quickly resolving cases
  • Called a “settlement guru” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Judge Swart is experienced in mediating and arbitrating cases involving a wide range of legal matters

Representative Matters

  • Business/Commercial
      • Presided over several trials involving business and commercial disputes
      • Settled breach of contract dispute involving construction company that defaulted on payments for loans used to finance large machinery
  • Class Action/Mass Torts
      • Numerous class action and mass tort issues, including cases involving federal preemption and governmental immunity issues stemming from major railroad crash
  • Construction Defect
      • Trials involving construction defect cases
  • Employment
      • Settled several employment and labor cases as settlement judge
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
      • Mediated and resolved hundreds of contested probate, trust, and conservatorship disputes
      • Resolved breach of fiduciary duty claims against trustee for allegedly borrowing trust money without authorization 
      • Resolved matter involving distribution of popular musician's trust to illegitimate children
      • Successfully mediated dispute between siblings over mother's survivor's trust that involved accounting and disbursement issues
  • Personal Injury/Torts
      • Settled numerous disputes involving liability of owner, workers compensation, premises liability, elder abuse, product liability, toxic tort, general personal injury, libel, defamation, and malicious prosecution matters
  • Professional Liability
      • Presided over trials and settled disputes involving malpractice or professional liability claims in medical, legal, and architectural industries, as well as hundreds of professional liability claims involving trust and probate accounting issues
  • Real Property
      • Tried and settled several real estate cases, including those involving homeowners associations, eminent domain, and landlord/tenant issues

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS. 

  • Judge of the Year, Pasadena Bar Association, 2001
  • Chair, Los Angeles County Superior Court Personnel and Budget Committee, 1995-1996, 2006-2008
  • Los Angeles County Superior Court Executive Committee, 1993-1994, 2002-2003
  • California Trial Court Budget Commission, 1993-1998
  • Former member, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association
  • Former Trustee, Occidental College
  • Past President, Occidental College Alumni Association
  • "Spinning Others' Tales," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, June 8, 2012

Background and Education

  • Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court, 1983-2008
    • Supervising Judge, North Central and Northeast Districts, 2004-2008
    • Independent Civil Calendar Court and Probate Judge, 1995-2003
    • Supervising Judge, Pasadena Courthouse, 1993-1994
    • Civil Trial Court Judge, 1991-1992
    • Fast Track Civil Court Judge, Central District, 1989-1990
    • Criminal Trial Judge, 1983-1988

Disclaimer

This page is for general information purposes.  JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness.  Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More

Search our global directory of mediators, arbitrators and ADR professionals.

FIND A NEUTRAL
Scroll to top