Judge Denton was a full time civil jury trial lawyer for 26 years prior to serving as a San Diego Superior Court Judge from 2001 until 2013. While his tenure on the bench, he served as an Independent Calendar Judge for both the Civil and Family Law Divisions and the Assistant Supervising Judge of the Civil Division. As an Independent Calendar trial judge he was responsible for managing a running caseload of up to 1000 civil cases of all types including complex litigation matters. He presided over law and motion, case management and trial of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases, complex real estate litigation, class actions, business and commercial disputes, medical and legal malpractice matters, employment and harassment cases, as well as insurance bad father matters. He was known as a "lawyer's judge" and was highly regarded for his pragmatic, fair and balanced courtroom management style.
Since joining Judicate West, Judge Denton has handled numerous mediations, arbitrations, and discovery master assignments on cases involving complex insurance coverage, subrogation, legal malpractice, real estate, and virtually every type of civil matter from cyber-stalking to catastrophic death and injury. He is best known for his energetic and pragmatic approach to problem solving as well as tenacious drive to resolve difficult cases. Many attorneys comment that his perspectives as an experienced judge and litigator for over 40 years brings a valuable combination of perspective and judgment to the mediation process.
Judge Denton frequently enjoys international travel with his wife who is an accomplished litigator, deep sea fishing, running, skiing, golf and coordinating the activity, school and athletic schedules for his two young adopted foster children who are 5 & 7. Despite being a "weekend golfer" Judge Denton is lucky and has two "holes in one" and one "eagle" to his credit. He spent most of his youth overseas and went to high school in Berlin, Germany arriving in 1961 as the "Wall" was being built. He also enjoys spending his free time with his older daughter who is a Federal Prosecutor in Wash. D.C. and a son who is a 3d digital animator for a major film studio.
"Judge Denton, having significant litigation experience, is ideally suited to act as a catalyst in resolving cases. He recently applied his talents and resolved what was sure to be a highly contentious high stakes employment matter. He acted promptly, before a complaint was even filed, convincing the parties and their attorneys that a mutually agreeable known result is a far better solution than years of expensive litigation leading to an uncertain result."
- Attorney, Irvine, CA
"Very prepared, professional and even."
- Attorney on a Real Property Business/Contractual Dispute
"Judge Denton was to the point and showed our clients the weak areas of their cases and I am sure he did the same with defendant and his counsel."
- Attorney on an employment/wrongful termination dispute
"Denton took the time to understand the many complex questions/ issues of law and fact, so as to create a viable and acceptable mediator's proposal after the initially unsuccessful session."
- Attorney on a complex employment wrongful termination dispute
"He was very familiar with the facts and the law in our case. He was also very effective communicating, and particularly effective with his use of time."
- Attorney on an Employment Wage & Hour Dispute
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your amazing hard work and dedication on this difficult case. The fact of settlement here is directly attributable to you, your single-mindedness, your tenacity, your brilliant insights and beautifully reasoned analyses. I have been doing this a long time and I have never had a Mediator stay as completely focused and engaged in a case as you have been in this one. Stated simply, this doesn’t get done without you.
"
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Auto Matter
"It was great mediating with you on this and I will certainly let people know the great experience we had with you, which echoes many sentiments as I heard of you by word of mouth as well!"
- Attorney on an Employment/Disability Dispute
"Mediator was efficient, straight to the point, and knew the issues."
- Attorney on an employment labor code dispute
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