Introduction

Admitted to practice law in 1986, and AV Rated for many years, Mr. Tessier’s legal career included representing defendants in general negligence, real estate, and product defect claims, as well as representing plaintiffs in varied matters of general and product liability, motor vehicle, and job site and construction injury litigation. As a mediator, he has developed particular expertise in traumatic orthopedic, brain, and neurologic injuries, as well as worker’s compensation and medical lien issues. Since joining Judicate West in 2008, he has mediated over four thousand litigated tort cases, including a myriad of major injury and high-profile claims. He has become one of the most sought-after mediators in Southern California and is well respected by all sides. One attorney commented: “Bob is extremely knowledgeable about the litigation process and is dead on in his analysis of cases. He has a wonderful way with people and uses his skills to cut to the heart of the case, while at the same time giving everyone their say. Another client commented: “Mr. Tessier was fantastic on a complicated premises liability claim, he never gave up during the negotiations and continued to encourage and work with the parties until the case settled. I will absolutely use him again.” A recent client succinctly summed it up: “He’s a closer.”
His varied life experience before becoming a lawyer, such as working in automobile restoration, restaurants, as a fitness trainer, and as a musician gives him a practical and unique perspective to alternative dispute resolution, and a comfortable, relatable style with his clients.

Practice Areas

• Professional Malpractice
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Professional Malpractice Legal
• Real Estate
  • Landlord/Tenant
  • Real Property
  • Warranty of Habitability
• Tort
  • Catastrophic Injury
  • General Negligence
  • Personal Injury
  • PI Auto
  • PI Sexual Assault
  • Premises Liability
  • Wrongful Death

ADR Highlights

• Mediated over 4,000 litigated tort cases
• Published numerous articles in the field of mediation for various bar associations, publications as well as Pepperdine Law Review
• Read More

Hobbies & Interests

His personal life involves his love of music-as he continues to moonlight in various bands-and classic automobile restoration. Charitable work includes being a current board member and officer of the JW Foundation, and Honorary board member of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyer Charities.

Website

http://tessiermediation.com/

ADR Highlights

• Mediated over 4,000 litigated tort cases
• Published numerous articles in the field of mediation for various bar associations, publications as well as Pepperdine Law Review
• Presented at numerous speaking engagements on the top of mediation

Testimonials

"I have had several mediations with Mr. Tessier in the past, and find him to be very effective as a Mediator; he listens carefully to presentations."
- Attorney with 30 Years of Experience in Insurance Litigation

"Bob Tessier is fast and efficient, and aggressive when necessary."
- Attorney, Phoenix, CA

"Robert did a great job. I was very happy with his services as was my client. "
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Auto case

"I cannot say how much I appreciate Robert's hard work on our client's case. He did a superb job of helping manage my client's expectations while simultaneously listening to my client's complaints and the subtleties of our liability claim. I strongly recommend him and look forward to working with him again in the future."
- Prominent Attorney, Los Angeles, CA

"I had never mediated with Bob before, although I had heard good things about him for years. The actual mediation experience was far beyond even what I expected. We were able to get a really excellent result for our client, and the process could not have gone more smoothly."
- Attorney on a Workers Comp Coverage Insurance case

"The result was great of course, but what really stood out was how [he was] able to build trust with my client and effectively communicate with him and his wife to bring them off the brink and back into the settlement despite my best efforts. This is just further proof of why [he is] one of the best!"
- Attorney on an Insurance Bad Faith Dispute

"Mr. Tessier was a class act."
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Auto case

"Bob is very knowledgeable in personal injury and was great with clients. He did an outstanding job."
- Attorney, Orange, CA

Read More

Links and Articles

• Wrong-Way Mediation: The Top Ten Ways Not to Settle Your Personal-Injury Case at Mediation

Legal Career

• Mediator, Judicate West (2008-Present)
• Faculty, Institute for Conflict Management, Mediating the Litigated Case (2005-2010)
• Robert M. Tessier, P.C, (1997-2006)
• Partner, Rowell & Tessier, A Law Corporation (1992-1997)
• Associate, Paul & Stuart (1991-1992)
• Associate, R. Edward Pfiester, A Law Corporation (1990-1991)
• Associate, Greene, O’Reilly, Broillet, Paul, Simon & Wheeler (1988-1990)
• Associate, Murchison & Cumming (1986-1988)

Education & Professional Affiliations

• J.D., Pepperdine University School of Law, cum laude (1986);
• B.A., Loyola Marymount University (1983)
• Department of Real Estate, Real Estate Broker (2005)
• Pepperdine University, School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mediation Training; Specialized Mediation- Law, Faith and Peacemaking
• Superlawyer (2014-Present)
• Daily Journal Top 50 Neutrals State of California (2011, 2013)
• International Academy of Mediators, Distinguished Fellow

Achievements & Awards

• Mr. Tessier was named by Los Angeles Magazine as one of California's "Super Lawyers", each year from 2014 through 2018, in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Mr. Tessier has published numerous articles in the field of mediation for the various bar associations, publications and Pepperdine Law Review, including: “What Goldilocks and the Three Bears Can Teach Us About Mediation,” (CAOC Advocate 2014), “The Top Ten Ways Not to Settle Your Personal-Injury Case at Mediation” (Plaintiff Magazine 2021), “The Case for Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Business Disputes,” “How to Achieve Optimum Results at Mediation,” “Mediating an Auto Case: Steps to Success & Mistakes to Avoid in Mediating an Auto Case,” “Making Effective Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution for Small Businesses,” and “The Settlement Game in the Ballpark that Tech-Bilt.” Additionally, Mr. Tessier has presented at numerous speaking engagements including: “Practical Tips for Success at Mediation,” Reykjavik, Iceland (2017), “Micro-Interventions for Unexpected Calamities, International Academy of Meditators,” Auckland, New Zealand (2016), “Let’s Make a Deal—Strategies for Resolving Personal Injury Claims,” SCMA (2012), “The Do’s and Don’ts of Mediation” LACBA (2009), “Ethics in the Small Office” (2008), “Workers Compensation and Governmental Liens” (2008), “Governmental Liens, Statutory Liens & ERISA” (2007), “Mediating the Litigated Case” (2006), “The Prisoner’s Dilemma” (2006), “Seduction in the Art of Mediation” (2006) and co-instructed numerous advanced mediation training courses.

Legal Experience

• Serious Personal Injury
• Professional Negligence
• Product Liability
• Insurance Bad Faith
• Lemon Law
• Employment Law
• Real Estate
• Trust and Probate Disputes
• Construction Defect and Injury Claims
• Elder Law
• FDCPA & Class Actions

Representative Case Information

• Professional Malpractice
• Real Estate
• Tort