Hon. Daniel Pratt
Judge of the Superior Court, Ret.
About Judge Daniel Pratt (Ret.)
Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience and Qualifications
Handled all Fen-Phen diet drug product liability cases in California from 1998 to 2006, of which all 4,700 cases were ultimately settled with only two trials conducted. | One of four judges in Los Angeles County who handled California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) cases in 2006 and 2007. |
Mediated thousands of cases involving a variety of issues since 1993, including complex business and commercial, construction defect, employment, environmental, insurance, mass torts, catastrophic personal injury, professional liability, and real property. | Taught judicial education seminars, including “Successful Settlements”. |
Fluent in Spanish. | Tried more than 700 court and jury trials in a variety of matters. |
Representative Cases
Aviation
Resolved multiple claims following death of pilots in private jet airplane crash after cargo door opened on takeoff. Settled payment dispute between owner of high-end private jet airplane and Management Company that provided pilots and plane maintenance.
Business/Commercial
Settled commercial disputes spanning construction, employment insurance, healthcare, real estate, and technology industries.
Class Action/Mass Tort
Mediated alleged violations of California Vehicle Leasing Act. Reached substantial settlement as mediator for 49-plaintiff case involving quinine products. Settled invasion of privacy dispute between plaintiff class and financial company over conversations recorded without class members’ knowledge.
Employment
Mediated and settled disputes involving wage and hour, prevailing wage, harassment, discrimination, unlawful termination, whistleblower, failure to accommodate, and workers’ compensation matters, including multi-plaintiff cases.
Environmental
One of four judges in Los Angeles County who handled California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) cases in 2006 and 2007.
Healthcare
Resolved cases including disputes between doctors, insurance coverage, medical malpractice claims, medical device, and healthcare-related employment matters.
Insurance
Mediated and settled several bad faith cases involving failure to cover and failure to defend.
Personal Injury
Settled disputes involving auto, construction site, elder care, premises and product liability, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death matters.
Professional Liability
Resolved claims against pharmaceutical company and pharmacy that child’s exposure to parent’s prescription product caused adverse effects. Settled claims of improper elder care causing pressure sores and pulmonary aspiration affecting plaintiff. Settled dispute involving claims that doctor and nurses ignored standard of care in treating.
Real Estate
Mediated and settled real estate disputes involving land use, landlord-tenant, profit participation, trusts and estates, and property damage issues.
Special Master/Discovery Referee
Appointed by Governor Edwin G. Brown, Jr. and Governor Gavin Newsome to act as the Special Master in the Kevin Cooper Capitol case, | Selected to conclusively settle all disputes between the people and Mr. Cooper's Defense team related to testing scope and protocols for all DNA testing. |
e-Discovery referee for unlawful termination case involving age discrimination claims. | Mediator and discovery referee in $4 million settlement of dispute involving chief executive officer's termination from healthcare company. |
e-Discovery referee on high-profile pharmaceutical lawsuit. | Neutral evaluator on damages in case involving death of family in house fire. |
Judge Pratt Honors, Memberships, Professional Activities
- Attendee, U.S. Army War College Strategic Implementation Seminar, 2011
- Recipient, Judge of the Year Award, Celtic Bar Association, 2008
- Recipient, Lifetime Judicial Award, Southeast District Bar Association, 2008
- Judge of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, 2004
- Judge of the Year, Southeast District Bar Association, 2000
- Judge of the Year, Whittier Bar Association, 1997
- Member, California Judges Association, 1988-present (former board member)
- Municipal Court Judges Association of Los Angeles County, 1988-present
- Mexican-American Bar Association, 1987-present
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1977-present
- Southeast District Bar Association, 1977-present
- Advisory Committee, California State Bar Litigation Section
- "Expanded Horizons," Daily Journal, ADR profile, February 9, 2009
Judge Pratt Education and Work Experience
2008-present | Independent Mediator, California |
2008-2014 | JAMS |
1989-2008 | Judge, Superior Court, Los Angeles County, (Supervising Judge, 1996 and 1997) |
1988-1989 | Court, East Los Angeles Judicial District, Los Angeles County, CA |
1983-1988 | Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County |
1981-1983 | Deputy Public Defender, Los Angeles County |
1977-1981 | Private law practice (emphasis in family law, personal injury, business, and criminal law), Norwalk, CA |
1977 | J.D., Western State University School of Law, Fullerton, CA |
1972 | B.A., California State University, Long Beach, CA |
References and fees available upon request.