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 as 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 his tenacious drive to resolve difficult cases. Many attorneys comment that his perspectives as an experienced judge and litigator for over 40 years bring 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 was fabulous!!!"
- Attorney on a Family Law Matter
"Mediator was efficient, straight to the point, and knew the issues."
- Attorney on an employment labor code dispute
"[Judge Denton] understood the issues, worked doggedly to get to resolution."
- Attorney on a Business Transactional Dispute
"He was our mediator in a substantial and complicated lawsuit against my client. With Judge Denton’s help, we were able to resolve the dispute, saving the parties at least six months of further litigation (to say nothing of the costs involved)."
- Attorney on a Commercial Insolvency & Debt Case
"We were impressed by Judge Denton's approach, efficiency and preparedness."
- Attorney, Orange County, CA
"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
"Judge Denton was very well prepared to mediate our complex, three party dispute. He was tenacious with all parties and had the persistence to keep the process moving until the parties could reach a settlement. I was very impressed with his intellect and style."
- Attorney on a securities 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
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2023.1.1.5rp
