During Judge Mooney’s 27 years on the Los Angeles Courts, he has earned a reputation for his pleasant judicial temperament and fair and respectful treatment of counsel. Having been a civil trial lawyer, specializing in medical negligence, product liability, insurance, and federal torts, he appreciates applying the law and zealous advocacy.

He sat in several departments for the Superior Court with most of his time serving in an independent calendar department. He presided over discovery proceedings and civil trials and conducted many settlement conferences in employment, civil rights, construction defect, product liability, professional malpractice, lemon law, mass tort, real estate, and personal injury cases. As a trial lawyer and judge, he has been involved in several bar groups such as Los Angeles County Bar Association, ABTL, and ABOTA, served on panels, and authored articles.

One attorney said, “I always enjoyed trying cases in Judge Mooney’s court. He is a trial lawyers' judge. He understands the law, is extremely prepared and quick-witted, and allows counsel to try their cases. He is going to make an excellent private judge.”

Practice Areas
  • Employment Law
  • Lemon Law
  • Medical Negligence
  • Personal Injury
  • Products Liability
  • Professional Malpractice
Hobbies & Interests

Judge Mooney loves music and plays multiple instruments including the banjo, mandolin, guitar, and ukulele. He also enjoys outdoor sports such as bicycling and skiing, and recently completed a solo bike ride across the United States.

Legal Career
  • Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2023-Present)
  • Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court (1998-2022)
  • Judge, Los Angeles Municipal Court (1995-1998)
  • Assistant U.S Attorney, U.S Attorney’s Office - Central District of California; Specializing in Federal Tort Claims (1991-1995)
  • Associate Attorney, Lafollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames; Specializing in Medical Malpractice, Products Liability and Public Entity Defense (1988-1991)
  • Associate Attorney, Torres & Brenner; Specializing in Medical Malpractice and Public Entity Defense (1987)
  • Associate Attorney, Hillsinger & Costanzo, PC; Specializing in Medical Malpractice, Products Liability and Public Entity Defense (1982-1987)
Education & Professional Affiliations
  • J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law (1981)
  • B.A., University of Southern California (1978)
  • Mediating the Litigated Case, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University (2022)
Achievements & Awards
  • Judge of the Year Award, American Board of Trial Advocates, (ABOTA) Los Angeles Chapter (2019)
  • Trial Judge of the Year Award, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) (2010)
Below is a sampling of the various matters Hon. Mark V. Mooney, Ret. presided over on the bench, tried as an attorney, or handled as a neutral.

Wage and Hour

  • During his time on the bench, he presided over numerous employment-related disputes.

Medical Malpractice

  • As an attorney, much of his practice focused on medical negligence matters.

Product Liability

  • As an attorney, he specialized in products liability cases.
Thank you for your fine work yesterday. Your professionalism, clarity and determination to get the job done was essential to the success of the mediation. It was a pleasure working with you.
- Partner at a Premier Business Litigation Firm in California
Judge Mooney was very professional and was able to connect with my client. He settled a very difficult case in one-half day. He is impressive as a mediator.
- Attorney on a Premises Liability Case
During his years on the bench, Judge Mooney was regarded as the consummate trial judge by ALL parties. He was fair, thoughtful, and smart, while also possessing the perfect judicial temperament. Now he is bringing not only his skill set to Judicate West as a full-time neutral but also his vast experience in presiding over many years of jury trials. There is no doubt that the qualities that made Judge Mooney such a terrific judge will make him an equally effective neutral in helping parties achieve a fair resolution.
- Partner at an Insurance Coverage Law Firm, Top 100 Attorneys in California, and 2021 Top Gun Trial Lawyer of the Year by OCTLA
Judge Mooney was a wonderful trial judge and a pleasure to be in front of; He was bright, prepared, and respectful of everyone, including court staff, parties, and jurors. He was always in control and ran an exceedingly fair but relaxed courtroom. Both sides got a fair shake when they were in front of Judge Mooney.
- National Trial Attorney Based in Los Angeles, Recognized as a Top 50 U.S. Attorney
Hon. Mark V. Mooney, Ret.
Based in Los Angeles | Available in All of California
Case Manager: Delmy Sanchez