Nov. 11, 2011

The Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Center for Civic Mediation, in association with The Rutter Group, held its 6th Annual Robert I. Weil Lecture on Monday. Proceeds from the event will benefit the center’s Community and Youth Peer Mediation programs. The annual lecture was established in 2006 to honor the late Superior Court Judge Robert I. Weil, who began a second career in the field of alternative dispute resolution after retiring from the bench. This year’s topic was “Balancing fairness and finality in arbitration: A state-federal contrast.” Guest panelists were Richard Chernick, vice president and managing director of JAMS’ Arbitration Practice, and Professor Christopher R. Drahozal of the University of Kansas School of Law. Rebecca Brown, Newton professor of constitutional law at USC Gould School of Law, served as moderator. The spirited lecture gave way to questions regarding arbitration clauses, including class action waivers, which Chernick and the panelists could have “gone all day” discussing. “Bob Weil would have loved this lecture.” The event raised more than $27,000. According to Max Factor III of Factor Mediation & Arbitration, it was the most they have raised in six years. Factor is also the chair of the Robert I. Weil lecture planning committee. — Connie Lopez