Christine Allen - Judicate West

Introduction

Christine Allen has worked in the Southern California legal community for over 30 years. She practiced personal injury defense for 18 years. She attended Pepperdine University Straus Institute for mediation training in 2004 and has been highly successful in mediating cases for the past 13 years. She has mediated over 1700 cases, with the vast majority of the cases settling either at the mediation, or with persistent follow-up.

Christine is an excellent listener, and feels strongly that injured/aggrieved plaintiffs must be given an opportunity to have their feelings heard and validated before they can move towards a resolution. Christine realizes how stressful litigation is for all concerned, and tries to make the mediation a pleasant experience for all. She is adept at the use of humor as a tool in mediation.

One attorney commented, "Christine is an experienced litigator with good people skills so she relates well to litigants and counsel. She is direct, but not pushy and she treats the parties with dignity and respect." Another attorney stated that Christine's mediation style is "authentic, disarming, and from the heart.”

Specialties

Hobbies & Interests

Christine loves to spend time with her family and their Collie, "Bodhi". She enjoys running at the beach, watching sunsets, yoga, is an avid horseback rider and just recently took up golf. She also enjoys spending time in their second home in Montana. Christine is semi-fluent in Spanish, having studied it for eight years and having lived in Mexico for one year.

Website

http://www.mediatorchristineallen.com/

Testimonials

I want to thank you for your continued efforts in trying to get this case settled especially while you were on vacation. You provided great service!
- Attorney on an Insurance Subrogation Dispute

Thank you so much for your hard work on this case. At the outset of the mediation it seemed as though we wouldn't get anywhere near a settlement. But your persistence and skills as a mediator shone through, and you were able to help the parties bridge what was a considerable gap to allow this case to settle...without your help this case would be headed to trial.
- Attorney on a Premises Liability/Personal Injury Matter

Thanks again for your hard work today. It was really good to be able to trust the bridge to the other side – Really helped me gauge where we were at, and made it easy to guide the clients. I know I wanted more and they wanted to pay less, but I do think it really was fair in the end. Thank you!
- Attorney on a premises liability dispute

My client and I are very happy with outcome. Thank you again for your help and professionalism in guiding us to a successful resolution! You did an amazing job!
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Auto Dispute

Christine's demeanor and compassion helped my client feel very comfortable during mediation. I was impressed with her follow-up post session, and her continuing efforts were able to help resolve the matter. She went over and above, unlike what I have experienced with other mediators. I will work with Christine in the future and recommend her to others.
- Attorney, Los Angeles, California

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your skill, compassion, wisdom and over all professional excellence… I’m sure you know what I was feeling coming into the mediation, and you handled me and the situation incredibly. Quite wonderful to witness your talent.
- Client on a Malpractice Dispute

I share [her] joy at getting this case wrapped up, and thank [her] VERY much for [her] extraordinary (and successful) efforts to settle this unusually challenging case. [She] certainly validated my recommendation, and reinforced my already positive opinion of [her] skills as a mediator. Moreover, it's just a pleasure to interact with you.
- Attorney on a real property/landlord tenant dispute

I can’t believe I have never met [her] until today. I really enjoyed working with [her]. I could not have been more impressed with [Christine] and [her] style. We will be seeing each other again, I can promise that!
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Auto Matter

Experience Summary

Legal Career

Full-Time Mediator (2004-present)
Attorney, Law Office of Christine A. Allen (2002-2004)
Attorney, Staff Counsel for Progressive Insurance (1988-2002)
Law Clerk, Hillsinger & Costanzo (1986-1987)

Education & Professional Affiliations

Western State University, College of Law: J.D. (1988)
Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, Indiana: B.A. (1981)
Member, Southern California Mediation Association (2006-present)
Member, Orange County Trial Lawyers (2010-present)
Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (2004)

Legal Experience

Personal injury
Premises Liability
Sexual Battery
Insurance
Breach of Contract

Representative Case Information

Recent Representative Cases

Business/Commercial

Contractual

Real estate commission dispute with potential fraud component.

Construction

Construction Defects

Plaintiffs hired defendant company to remodel their kitchen. Some of the cabinets did not match and the work was substandard. Wife highly emotional as the remodel was an anniversary gift from husband.

Employment

Wage and Hour

Pregnant employee fired.
Plaintiff claimed he was forced to clock out, but then continue to work nearly every day. Also claimed that he did not get rest breaks. Also claimed that after filing his lawsuit against the company, his boss threatened his life.

Wrongful Termination

Plaintiff cared for defendants' children. Plaintiff had claims for discrimination based on disability, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, assault and battery.

Insurance

Property Damage

Plaintiff had a very large collection of original books etc. from a religious organization stored in a storage facility. The company who rented the space above plaintiff stored heavy industrial products which caused the floor to collapse in to plaintiff's unit, damaging plaintiff's collection. Defendants were the storage company, the contractor who built the facility, and the company whose storage was above plaintiff's.

Subrogation

Insurance subrogation involving multiple parties arising out of a fire at a restaurant.
Insurance company subrogation claim against negligent driver for damages paid to their insured.

Professional Malpractice

Medical Malpractice

Plaintiff sued her therapist for malpractice and sexual harassment. She claimed that therapist tried to implant false memories of sexual abuse. She also claimed that the therapist sexually harassed her and brainwashed her like a cult. Plaintiff had significant underlying mental health issues.

Professional Malpractice Legal

Legal malpractice action for failing to file a compulsory cross-complaint in underlying personal injury auto case.

Real Estate

Landlord/Tenant

Plaintiffs lived in an apartment complex for several years and were on a month to month lease. They were given a 60-day notice to terminate which placed their last day on the same day as their due date for their first baby. They claimed discrimination. Defendants said they weren't aware plaintiffs were pregnant and that the termination of the lease was due to prior unrelated problems with plaintiffs.

Tort

Civil Rights

Woman breastfeeding in a public place was asked to cover up by city employee. Defense attorney commented that he didn't think a male mediator could have settled the case.

Food Safety

Plaintiff got food poisoning at defendant's restaurant while on vacation with her family. Had emergency exploratory surgery and hospitalized for five days. All entities in the supply chain were defendants.
Plaintiff ate fish at defendant restaurant and became violently ill, resulting in surgery. Defendants were the restaurant, and three other defendants in the chain of commerce.

Personal Injury

Scientist trips over box at supermarket, resulting in rotator cuff tear. Six-figure settlement.
Elderly woman with dementia falls on sidewalk at senior living complex.
Extremely emotional case in which Spanish-speaking, female employee was sexually assaulted in bathroom at work. (Spoke Spanish with plaintiff, which was very helpful.)
Very emotional case involving a young woman who was attacked by a pitbull and has residual scarring and pain.
Extremely emotional case with woman walking her two large dogs when an approaching small dog got away from young owner and charged the large dogs. One of the large dogs picks the small dog up in its mouth and starts shaking it. Woman tries to save the small dog from harm, and is injured in the process.
Young girl attacked by dog with residual scarring on her thigh.
Highly emotional case where Hispanic woman claimed she was groped by the interpreter while in dressing room at doctor's office.
Plaintiff was brought hot soup by a nurse shortly after major surgery. Some of it spilled on to plaintiff's chest and she suffered second degree burns. Case settled in mediation.
Plaintiff crossed busy street mid block and was hit by pizza delivery driver leaving the parking lot. $450k in medical bills. Plaintiff had surgeries to shoulder, knee and low back fusion. Defendant disputed liability, damages and causation. Case settled at mediation.

PI Assault and Battery

Plaintiff was at an after hours dance club and got in an altercation with another patron, who then stabs plaintiff. Video shows lax security at the club which allowed other patron to enter the club with a pocket knife.

PI Auto

Dad carrying baby struck in crosswalk resulting in injuries to dad.
Extremely emotional case where three family members killed in a crosswalk by a drunk driver. Limited policy limits.
Defendant made lane change into plaintiff on a motorcycle. Plaintiff ejected and rolled on freeway for 100 yards. Fractured finger and injuries to neck and back.
Young woman rear ended on surface street. Defendant driver flees scene. Soft tissue injuries.
Tire comes off tractor-trailer rig, flies across freeway into oncoming traffic and hits plaintiff's vehicle resulting in serious neck and back injuries with epidurals done, and surgery recommended. Six-figure settlement.
Man saws off fingertip while working for a family member who failed to warn him of a dangerous condition in the area where he was using power saw.
Insurance subrogation involving multiple parties arising out of a tour bus hitting fire hydrant causing flooding damage and loss of use to adjacent hotel. Weeks of follow-up resulted in settlement.
Very emotional case with woman involved in auto accident miscarried her unborn child. Causation of miscarriage disputed.
Defendants' tenant had a pit bull in backyard who escaped and attacked plaintiff and her small dog. Plaintiff had long standing pre-existing neck and back injuries, including a neck fusion. Plaintiff had low back fusion after incident.
Plaintiff bought soup from defendant's restaurant. It spilled on his lap/groin on the way home and he suffered third degree burns which required being hospitalized for a week. Comparative fault at issue.
Plaintiff was a freshman in college when involved in a four car rear-end accident on the freeway. Dispute as to sequence of impacts. Main defendant settled early paying policy limits. Car directly behind plaintiff claimed that she was hit and pushed in to plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed that car behind hit her first, and then got hit and pushed back in to her for a second rear end impact, pushing plaintiff in to car in front of her. Soft tissue injuries with positive findings on NCV but not MRI. Plaintiff was five weeks in to her second semester and had to take a leave of absence from school and wasn't able to resume for a year due to pain and classes she needed as prerequisites not available until the following year. Plaintiff claimed losses of tuition and being delayed to start in the work force.
Plaintiff was a pedestrian in a crosswalk who was stuck and broke his leg. Surgery required. Plaintiff had suffered a stroke seven years earlier and was already disabled. Plaintiff counsel had a life care plan of over six-figures. Carrier had failed to pay policy limits timely, so the carrier came to mediation planning to pay more than policy limits due to bad faith issues.
Defendant was coming out of a driveway in commercial area. Plaintiff is young woman riding a bike on the sidewalk going opposite of the flow of traffic. Defendant did not see plaintiff and they collided. Significant injury to plaintiff's spine resulting in two surgeries including fusion with hardware. Plaintiff claims permanent partial paralysis in left leg.
Plaintiff was pedestrian in crosswalk and hit by defendant. Injuries to knees, shoulder and low back with two surgeries.
Two insurance companies with complaints against one another for property damage to their insureds' vehicles.
Policy limits distribution between five claimants, four of whom were pedestrians struck after two cars collided in intersection with fractures and major traumas.
Plaintiff rear-ended by Defendant tractor/trailer. She suffered a torn rotator cuff with surgery. Plaintiff also claiming retinal detachment that first became symptomatic three months after accident. Defense disputed that this was accident related.
First party case. Claimant had soft tissue injuries with pre-existing problems. She also became pregnant shortly after the accident and then had a miscarriage, claiming that it was at least partially caused by the physical and emotional pain she was in due to the auto accident.
Plaintiff on a bike and defendant opens van door in to traffic and plaintiff hits it. Defense said he had been standing with door open for a while when plaintiff ran in to him. Plaintiff claimed that Defendant driver drove off without helping him. Punitive damages alleged. Settled in mediation.
69-year-old female plaintiff injured in automobile accident. Plaintiff sustained significant facial, chest, and abdominal bruising but required limited medical care after discharge from emergency room. The settlement value of the case was driven largely by the amount of medical bills plaintiff would be entitled to recover.

PI Sexual Molestation

Young male sexually molested by church youth leader.

Policy Distribution

Two-car rollover accident resulting in significant injuries to five plaintiffs. Limited policy limits.

Premises Liability

Mother with family at entertainment venue when chair collapses, resulting in patella dislocation, knee surgery, and potential need for total knee replacement. Six-figure settlement.
Plaintiff slips in water at pharmacy. Significant injury to coccyx with ongoing problems.
Doctor on a bike path falls off bike due to unsafe condition resulting in significant injuries. Six-figure settlement.
Elderly, diabetic woman fell at the mall and fractured her patella. Six-figure settlement.
Minor plaintiff ran in to a sliding glass door at an apartment complex in the common area for a birthday party. Glass was not tempered and she suffered multiple large cuts. Multiple scars on arms and legs.
Seven-year-old Minor plaintiff severely injured when she ran through a sliding glass door that was not tempered glass resulting in multiple cuts that resulted in scarring and future scar revision surgery necessary.
Young plaintiff sitting on block wall separating back yards with leg hanging over in the backyard of defendant who had a Pit Bull mix. Dog jumps up and grabs child's leg, pulls him to the ground, breaking his leg and biting through his foot. Ongoing psychological problems for the child, plus residual scarring. Case settled in mediation.
Ladder fell on plaintiff's head at big box store. Large gash on top of head requiring stitches. Permanent scarring.
Plaintiff slipped and fell on sidewalk with mossy substance that was slippery due to rain. One defendant was landowner, the other the was a landscaping company. Both defendants were denying liability, and claiming substantial comparative fault on plaintiff. Fractured ankle with three surgeries and significant residuals.
Plaintiff tripped on a parking space stopper. Fractured shoulder with ORIF and second surgery for hardware removal. Dispute settled in mediation.
Housekeeper at defendant hotel dropped dirty linens from second floor and hit plaintiff in the head. Cervical fusion and futures necessary. Case settled in mediation.
Plaintiff bit in to a piece of glass after serving herself cereal out of a glass container at defendant's buffet. Plaintiff alleges that this caused two teeth under her bridge to break off, which resulted in the need for implants and more issues with her entire mouth. Defendants pointed the finger at one another.
Plaintiff gets second degree burns on hand after serving herself soup at Defendant supermarket's self-serve soup bar. Defense alleged that plaintiff simply spilled it on herself. Plaintiff claimed the soup was kept at too high of a temperature and that there should have been a warning for the public.

Workers Compensation

Plaintiff sought reimbursement for workers compensation benefits they had paid out to two employees who were passengers in a vehicle during work hours who were hit by defendant's vehicle.

Neutral Profile

CHRISTINE ALLEN, ESQ.

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CHRISTINE ALLEN, ESQ.

CHRISTINE ALLEN, ESQ.

Introduction

Specialties

Hobbies & Interests

Website

Testimonials

Experience Summary

Legal Career

Education & Professional Affiliations

Legal Experience

Representative Case Information

Recent Representative Cases

Business/Commercial

Contractual

Construction

Construction Defects

Employment

Wage and Hour

Wrongful Termination

Insurance

Property Damage

Subrogation

Professional Malpractice

Medical Malpractice

Professional Malpractice Legal

Real Estate

Landlord/Tenant

Tort

Civil Rights

Food Safety

Personal Injury

PI Assault and Battery

PI Auto

PI Sexual Molestation

Policy Distribution

Premises Liability

Workers Compensation

Downtown Los Angeles

West Los Angeles

San Diego

Santa Ana

San Francisco

Sacramento