Steven M. Vartabedian

After 29 years of judicial service, 21 of those years as a justice on the Court of Appeal, Steve has returned to private practice specialiizing in presiding over mediation, arbitration and referee/special master proceedings.  Additionally, he is available for appelllate advising.

The more than 180 cases that he has authored and published in the California Appellate Reports demonstrate the breadth of his experience.  He has a particular depth of experience in cases alleging serious personal injury and product defect including claims of punitive damages.    He also has considerable bodies of work in real estate and construction matters, probate, employment law, medical service contract litigation, and agricultural disputes. 

The following published cases are represesentative of the cases he has authored:

Yarick v. Pacificare (2009) 179 1158.

Baker Manock & Jensen v. Sup. Ct. (2009) 175 1414.

UAS Mgmt. v. Mater Misericordiae Hosp. (2008) 169 357.

Johnson v. Ford Motor Co. (2005) 135 137.

Horsford v. CSU Trustees (2005) 132 359.

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. v. City of Fresno (2005) 127 Cal. 914. 

Sweat v. Big Time Auto Racing (2004) 117 1301.

Romo v. Ford Motor Co. (2003) 113 738 and (2002) 99 738.

Maples v. Kern Assessment Appeals Bd. (2002) 103 172.

Thompson v. Tracor Flight Systems (2001) 86 . 4th 1156.