Hon. Thomas Neal Thrasher (Ret.), the recently retired Orange County Superior Court sole designated mediation jurist, combines four decades of judicial and legal experience with his unique ability to bring about the successful resolution of complex, multi-party matters.  Judge Thrasher has tried numerous civil cases and in the past three years as mediator for the court, has mediated and settled hundreds more.  He has earned a reputation for bringing parties together in extremely difficult situations and getting them to reach consensus.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Created the mediation program in the Orange County Superior Court in January 2002 and was its sole mediator
• In addition to handling a regular 500-case inventory while on the Superior Court bench, conducted more than 1,000 mediations in a wide variety of disputes from January 2002 through October 2004

Representative Matters

Judge Thrasher has successfully resolved a vast assortment of matters including:

• Business/commercial disputes: corporate partnership cases, sales of business, board of directors/shareholders disputes, contract matters, creditor/debtor disputes, franchisor/franchisee cases
• Employment cases: wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and other matters
• Family law: multi-million dollar dissolution of marriage case
• Mediated dispute between two national insurance companies re insurance coverage and equitable contribution
• Mediation financial and foreclosure disputes between national financial institution and federal government
• Real property disputes: residential and commercial easement, escrow disputes, homeowner association/CCR disputes, partition, and landlord/tenant matters
• Referee/Special Master: medical shareholder dispute, trade secrets
• Personal injury matters: general negligence, auto, premises liability, medical/dental malpractice, wrongful death

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Judge of the Year, 2004 (Hon. Jerrold Oliver Award), presented by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
• Judge of the Year, Business Litigation Section, Orange County Bar Association, 1994
• Board of Governors, Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 1999-2001
• Supervising Judge, Orange County Superior Court Civil panel, 1992-1997
• Assistant Presiding Judge, Orange County Superior Court, 1998-2000
• President, Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court, 1995-1998
• Adjunct Professor ("Real Property"), Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, Orange County, 1967-1987
• Community Preservation Award, presented by the Santa Ana Historical Society, 2004
  • For Courthouse Wall of Fame, historical photos, and planting orange trees

Background and Education

• Judge, Superior Court, Orange County, 1988-2004 (Supervising Judge, Civil Panel, 1992-1997; Assistant Presiding Judge, 1998-1999)
  • Chair, Arbitration Committee; Chair, Judicial Education/Workshop Committee; Chair Bench/Bar Civil Case Management Committee; Rules and Forms Committee; State Chair of California Judges Association Civil Law and Procedures Committee (1996–1997)