Steven R. Kuhn - Judicate West

Introduction

After 38 successful years as a trial attorney whose practice has been limited to all aspects of personal injury and civil litigation, Steven R. Kuhn, Esq. is focusing his career on Dispute Resolution. He has mediated and arbitrated cases in the field of personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, and business litigation, as well is in other fields such as homeowner association, real estate, employment and construction defect matters.

Mr. Kuhn is respected for his professionalism, sensitivity, knowledge and preparedness. His integrity and fairness are matched by his willingness to persist and resolute calmness through complex and difficult hearings. He has a success rate in excess of 90 percent in resolving mediated matters. One attorney commented "In my opinion, Mr. Kuhn's solid grasp of the law together with his strong reputation in the community helped me get my matter resolved to my client's complete satisfaction

Specialties

Hobbies & Interests

Enjoys golfing, reading and traveling

Testimonials

I would like to thank Steve for his excellent work. I was very pleased with the result and felt that he handled the entire proceeding masterfully. I am heartily recommending him to my colleagues.
- Attorney, Los Angeles County, California

I really appreciate Steve's direct approach and his ability to cut through some of the issues that can bog down a case. I have worked with many mediators and I can say that he is among the greatest. We will definitely seek his services in the future.
- Attorney, San Diego County, California

Was helpful + effective with difficult clients.
- Attorney on a warranty of habitability dispute

I would like to thank Steve for his time and effort. He went beyond whatever any other mediator would do. Not only is that good business practice, it how much he cares about bringing these cases to resolution. I admire his drive to actually try to make a difference.
- Attorney, Los Angeles, California

Steve Kuhn did an excellent job at getting both sides together and settling a very difficult case with punitive damages. Steve is very professional and has a good track record with a 99% success rate of settling my cases.
- Attorney, Orange County, California

Experience Summary

Legal Career

Law Offices of Kuhn & Belz, specializing in personal injury, professional negligence, business, construction defect and real estate litigation cases. Served as a private mediator (1998 - 2009)
Law Offices of Steven R. Kuhn, an emphasis on personal injury, attorney negligence and business litigation cases (1979-1998, and 2009-2011)
Associate, Hunt, Liljestrom & Wentworth, Santa Ana, CA., with emphasis in plaintiff personal injury (1976-79)
Associate, Parker, Stanbury, McGee & Babcock, Los Angeles, CA., emphasizing insurance defense (1973-76)

Education & Professional Affiliations

Arbitrator and Mediator for Orange County Superior Court
Mediator for Los Angeles Superior Court
Settlement Officer for United States District Court for the Central District of California
Lecturer for California Continuing Education of the Bar and Consumer Attorneys Association of CA
Mediating the Litigated Case at Pepperdine University Straus Institute (2003)
Board of Governors , California Trial Lawyers Association, (1991-94)
President, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (1991)
Board of Directors and Legal Counsel, Irvine Chamber of Commerce (1983-88)
Board of Directors ,Orange County Bar Association (1991)
Client Relations and Judiciary Committee of the Orange County Bar Association (2004)
Workshop Judge, Orange County College of Trial Advocacy
J.D., Southwestern University School of Law (1973)
B.A., Economics, University of California at Los Angeles (1970)
Planning and Transportation Commissioner for the City of Irvine

Achievements & Awards

Mr. Kuhn was named by Los Angeles Magazine as one of California's "Super Lawyers", 2014 & 2013, in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Economic Honor Society - U.C.L.A.
Top 10% of class, Law Review - Southwestern University
Recipient of Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Services Award
California Trial Lawyers Association (recognition of experience in areas of trial lawyer, general personal injury, product liability and professional negligence)
Member Million Dollar Advocates Forum
AVVO Superb Attorney Rating
Rated as a Top Attorney in Alternative Dispute Resolution Law, Orange Coast Magazine
Named a Super Lawyer, by Super Lawyers Rating Service
Awarded AV Preeminent Status by Martindale Hubbell for over 25 years

Legal Experience

Personal Injury
Product Liability
Legal and Medical Malpractice
Real Estate
Construction Defects
Homeowner Association matters and Business/Contractual

Representative Case Information

Recent Representative Cases

Business/Commercial

Contractual

Defendants defaulted on a lease of property used as a bar. Some of the defendants were judgement proof, but combined settlement of the remaining defendants was reached at $25,000.
Defendant hired by plaintiff to design and build a medical product. They did not produce the product on time and produced a faulty product according to plaintiff. Defendant claims the delays caused by plaintiff and plaintiff owed them $55,000 for the cost of designing and building the product. Case settled with plaintiff paying defendant $13,000 in satisfaction of their outstanding invoice and defendant will turn over all original design plans and IP documentation.

Insurance

Bad Faith

Bad faith insurance case. Stipulated judgment in underlying case of seven figures. Defendant claimed collusion between the parties and claimed no coverage due to exclusions in the insurance policy. Demand at beginning of mediation was eight figures with no offer. Case settled in mediation.

Property Damage

Dispute between two adjoining landowners regarding responsibility for the repair of the fence between the two properties, but fully on one landowners property. Case settled in mediation as the parties agreed to what was considered a fair division of repair work and maintenance responsibilities going forward.

Real Estate

Breach Of Contract

Plaintiff claimed wrongful eviction as a tenant following Unlawful Detainer Judgment against property owner. Case complicated by former owner/landlord failing to give any notice to his tenant who occupied a small unit on the foreclosed property. New owner entered property and removed single female tenant who alleged emotional distress damages, punitive damages and attorney fees based on statutory violations.

Home Owners Association

HOA case where homeowner sued the association and its board for failure to maintain proper reserves, breach of fiduciary duty for failure to maintain the the common areas, allowing them to go in disrepair. Case was settled for payment by the association for the plaintiff's attorneys fees. HOA to hire a forensic accountant to audit the financials of the HOA; an oversight committee will be formed to make sure the repairs and construction being done is done properly. The HOA was to send out a monthly update on the construction project as well as a letter to the members of the HOA advising them of the settlement and that the plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in the best interests of the community.

Landlord/Tenant

Landlord tenant dispute wherein the tenant claimed the landlord failed to maintain the property, alleging an unsafe conditions and failure to proper landscape maintenance which compromised view from the property. Settled for $20,000 and return of security deposit.

Tort

General Negligence

Child struck by an unattended commercial vehicle, causing severe injuries. Case settled with a structured settlement for the minor in excess of $1.9 million.

Personal Injury

Slip & fall accident while plaintiff was in the course and scope of her employment. Case settled for $20,000 with the worker's compensation carrier waiving their lien in exchange for a 3rd party C&R
Minor severely bitten by defendant's dog, with issue of potential trespassing involved. Case settled for $200,000.
Plaintiff slipped and fell on liquid in an aisle of the grocery store. The defendant claimed no notice. Plaintiff sustained a shoulder injury resulting in arthroscopic surgery. Case settled for $135,000.
51-year-old female bit on mouth by a dog. Defense claiming comparative fault for disturbing the dog when it was eating. Facial scaring that can be improved with plastic surgery. Case settled in mediation.

PI Auto

Automobile accident involving 3 different policies of insurance with UM Coverage. Case settled for $150,000 divided equally among the 3 insurance carriers.
Plaintiff was pedestrian who was struck in a crosswalk by defendant's vehicle, a commercial vehicle. Plaintiff suffered multiple fractures. Case settled for $500,000 general damages.
Automobile vs. motorcycle accident resulting in complaints of complex regional pain syndrome, and also knee surgery. Defense claimed plaintiff was speeding. Case settled for $350,000.
Contested liability auto vs. auto accident. Plaintiff had both a cervical and lumbar laminectomy as a result of the accident and had to retire early. Case settled for $950,000.
Auto incident dispute that involved issues with liability, causation and damages. Plaintiff had two lumbar surgeries with poor results. Defense asserted that plaintiff ran red light and was subjected to unnecessary surgery as the impact was minor. Case settled in mediation for a 6 figure amount.
This was a 3 car automobile rear-end accident. At the second session a Mediator's Proposal was made which was initially accepted by the plaintiff and rejected by the defendant. After continued follow-up by the mediator, the case was set for a 3rd session of mediation at which time the case settled.
Mediated and settled case involving plaintiff who had two lumbar surgeries. Problems on liability, causation and damages.
Plaintiff was driving a tractor trailer when he was rear-ended by defendant's tractor trailer at 55 MPH. Plaintiff sustained low back injuries and PTSD. No surgery for low back but he did receive injections in his low back. Case settled in mediation.
Rear-end automobile accident while plaintiff was a passenger in a car driven by a co-employee in the course and scope of his employment. Allegations that co-employee was negligent for failing to tie down a pump in the back seat. Surgery to shoulder and knee and soft tissue injuries to back and neck. Dispute settled in mediation.

Premises Liability

3 year old went down an old slide in a city park and caught his pinky finger on a protruding dangerous weld on the slide. This caused a traumatic amputation of the finger. Attempts to reattach the finger were unsuccessful.

Neutral Profile

STEVEN R. KUHN, ESQ.

View More Neutrals

STEVEN R. KUHN, ESQ.

STEVEN R. KUHN, ESQ.

Introduction

Specialties

Hobbies & Interests

Testimonials

Experience Summary

Legal Career

Education & Professional Affiliations

Achievements & Awards

Legal Experience

Representative Case Information

Recent Representative Cases

Business/Commercial

Contractual

Insurance

Bad Faith

Property Damage

Real Estate

Breach Of Contract

Home Owners Association

Landlord/Tenant

Tort

General Negligence

Personal Injury

PI Auto

Premises Liability

Downtown Los Angeles

West Los Angeles

San Diego

Santa Ana

San Francisco

Sacramento