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    MELISSA BLAIR ALIOTTI, ESQ.

    • Available in Northern California, All of California
    • Available for Mediation, Arbitration, and Private Judging assignments
    >> Contact Case Manager >> Submit an Inquiry >> Submit a Case

    Introduction

    Melissa draws upon more than 30 years of legal experience to resolve a variety of civil litigation matters including construction defect, all types of personal injury, landlord tenant and habitability matters. A part-time private mediator, arbitrator, and special master since 2010, she made the decision in 2016 to follow her passion and transitioned to full-time neutral work. She volunteered as an arbitrator, mediator and settlement judge for local courts before embarking on her private mediation practice. She has served as a judge pro tem and settlement officer for the Sacramento County Superior Court for over two decades and also frequently participates on educational seminars focused on dispute resolution topics.

    Melissa’s friendly demeanor, combined with her direct and persistent approach, provides a sound foundation for the candid dialogue required to achieve resolution. Melissa has the insight and experience to efficiently identify issues and discern on a case-by-case basis how to get parties engaged to bring about resolution. Her goal is, “to try to bring to the negotiation table a distinct set of problem-solving skills that will assist the parties in resolving their disputes on their terms so that they can get back to what they care about most in their lives – their families, their businesses, their passions.”

    Specialties

    Hobbies & Interests

    In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, playing piano and guitar, listening to music, gardening, hiking, reading, and keeping up on national, state, and local political and cultural issues.

    Testimonials

    “She was very good at making my client feel heard.”
    - Attorney on a Product Liability Matter

    "Melissa Aliotti is a seasoned litigator who has what it takes to resolve litigation disputes, both big and small. She brings to the table a sharp legal mind, a tremendous work ethic, and the ability to bring litigants together to settle their disputes. I recommend Melissa for your mediation needs without reservation."
    - Civil Litigation Attorney

    Links and Articles

    Experience Summary

    Legal Career

    • Neutral, Judicate West (Present)
    • Mediator, Arbitrator & Private Judge, Aliotti Dispute Resolution (2010-Present)
    • DRC Officer, Dispute Resolution Conference, El Dorado Superior Court (2000-Present)
    • Appointed Mediator and Arbitrator, Sacramento County Superior Court (1998-Present)
    • MSC Judge Pro Tem, Department 59, Superior Court of Sacramento (1998-Present)
    • Partner, Read & Aliotti PC handling civil litigation: personal injury, landlord/tenant, habitability, construction, construction defect, sexual abuse, assault/battery, D&O, HOA (1997-2016)
    • Associate, Tennant Read & Dutra; Read & Dutra; Read, Dutra & Oates; Law Offices of Michael B. Read, handling civil litigation: personal injury, construction defect, D&O (1990-1997)
    • Associate, Mullen & Filippi, handling workers’ compensation defense (1988-1990)

    Education & Professional Affiliations

    • J.D., Monterey College of Law (1987)
    • B. A., San Diego State University, Political Science and Sociology (1983)
    • Dispute Resolution Training (100+ hours), Pepperdine University School of Law/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, American Bar Association, and Sacramento County Bar Association (2010-Current)
    • American Bar Association (1987-Current)
    • Association of Defense Counsel of NorCal and Nevada (1980-Current), Board of Directors (2006-2011)
    • Sacramento County Bar Association (ADR, Construction, Litigation) (1990-Current)
    • National Association of Women in Construction (2011-2014)

    Achievements & Awards

    • Named, “Top Lawyer”, by Sacramento Magazine (2016-Present)
    • AV-Rated Preeminent (Martindale-Hubbell)
    • Recipient, President’s Award, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada (2011)

    Legal Experience

    • All types of Construction Disputes
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Personal Injury
    • Product Liability
    • Real Estate

    Representative Case Information

    Recent Representative Cases

    Construction

    Constr. Defect/Real Property

    • Plaintiff’s single family home vacation rental property was allegedly damaged when a construction company crushed a sewage line, resulting in backflow into the residence and damage to finishes and systems, necessitating mitigation, demolition, remediation, and ultimately reconstruction. Case settled in the middle 6-figures, including lost rent and rental opportunities, for which coverage was disputed.

    Construction Breach Of Contract

    • Brought in as third Special Master to settle a residential construction defect litigation action involving 30+ plaintiffs and 25+ contractor entities. The causes of action at issue were products liability, breach of contract, professional negligence and insurance coverage.
    • Public works construction project involving changed scopes, delays, stop notices, liquidated damages, attorneys fees, and 998 offers. Litigation between general and subs settled for confidential amount during half-day mediation session.

    Construction Defects

    • Served as Discovery Referee in a commercial construction defect case involving a Native American tribe and the contractors involved in the construction of their casino establishment. Disputes involved the intersection and application of tribal, state, and federal laws.
    • Public entity sued the suppliers and installers of an underground utilities system, due to alleged failure. Various elements of the infrastructure were adversely affected. The case ultimately settled in the 7-figure range, requiring the resolution of claims involving SIRs, surety bonds, coverage, and excess insurance.

    Real Estate

    Landlord/Tenant

    • Landlord tenant dispute over failed remediation and reconstruction of unit resulting in confidential six-figure resolution involving contractors, property owners, and tenant.

    Property Damage

    • Homeowner sued developer for property damage and bodily injury arising from mold contamination attributed to water intrusion from multiple sources. Resolved on confidential terms among all parties including trade contractors and materials suppliers.

    Real Property

    • As trial attorney, tried to verdict a property line dispute in rural area involving residential building sited partially on neighbor’s agricultural parcel, with claims of adverse possession, quiet title, and trespass, and cross-claims involving drainage water and nuisance.

    Warranty of Habitability

    • As trial attorney, tried to verdict a landlord tenant case involving bodily injury and personal property damage arising from improper wastewater line installation, resulting in filth and mold conditions. Case tried to defense verdict and pursued by opposition on appeal. CCP 998 offer employed successfully to offset attorneys’ fees award on habitability only.
    • As litigator, handled landlord-tenant dispute over arsenic levels in well water. Case resolved on confidential basis to satisfaction of the parties.

    Tort

    General Negligence

    • An entire residential neighborhood of senior citizens sued a national retailer who was developing a lot for a new store. Plaintiffs alleged that the noise and vibrations from the construction activities caused damage to their homes. The defendant disputed causation. Case resolved with confidential terms to everyone’s satisfaction.

    Personal Injury

    • Part-time, temporary construction laborer fell at job site and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He was deemed to be permanently disabled from his injuries. Liability and causation were disputed. Resolution of this case was dependent upon identification of and participation by the appropriate employer and insurer(s) for workers compensation as well as general liability. The dispute was further complicated by multiple cross-complaints arising from indemnity contracts. After two mediation sessions, the case settled, followed by WCAB approval.
    • Plaintiff alleged injury to knees and back resulting from a slip and fall on a rainy day just inside the entry doors of a nationwide retail establishment. The retailer had placed wet floor signs at the location of the fall, but plaintiff 's experts would testify about how much more could have been done, both easily and inexpensively, to protect customers from the slippery tile conditions sure to exist in inclement weather. Following plaintiff's surgery and a failed mediation with another provider, case resulted in a confidential settlement to both parties' satisfaction.

    PI Assault and Battery

    • As trial attorney, tried to verdict a battery case with admitted minor injuries, but disputed head injury versus early-onset Alzheimers’ disease. CCP 998 offer employed successfully.

    PI Auto

    • Plaintiff bus driver injury case, complicated by multiple prior mental and physical conditions, and workers compensation. Mediation resulted in a settlement of all issues.

    Premises Liability

    • Restaurant customer trip-and-fall in inadequately protected construction zone resulting in injuries requiring surgery, mental health treatment, and significant recuperation period. Case resolved on confidential terms with contributions from the business as well as the contractors’ insurance carriers.

    Product Liability

    • Homeowners carrier subrogated to a mid six-figure water loss originating with water filtration system. Causation was disputed with competing theories of product liability (manufacturing and design), negligent installation, and failure to maintain. Case settled in mediation.

    Downtown Los Angeles

    601 S. Figueroa
    Ste 4000
    Los Angeles, CA 90017
    Phone: 213.223.1113
    Fax      : 213.223.1114

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    West Los Angeles

    11601 Wilshire Blvd
    Ste 2040
    Los Angeles, CA 90025
    Phone: 310.442.2100
    Fax      : 310.442.2125

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    San Diego

    402 W. Broadway
    Ste 2400
    San Diego, CA 92101
    Phone: 619.814.1966
    Fax      : 619.814.1967

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    Santa Ana

    1851 East First Street
    Ste 1600
    Santa Ana, CA 92705
    Phone: 714.834.1340
    Fax      : 714.834.1344

    Orange County Mediation

    San Francisco

    100 Pine Street
    Ste 1950
    San Francisco, CA 94111
    Phone: 415.266.1242
    Fax      : 415.266.1243

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    Sacramento

    980 9th Street
    Suite 2200
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    Phone: 916.394.8490
    Fax      : 916.394.8495

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