Judge Steven I. Platt (Ret.)

Judge Steven I. Platt (Ret.)

Profession: Mediator, Arbitrator, Attorney, Retired Judge

Work History: Mediator and Arbitrator, The Platt Group, Inc., 2007-present; Judge, Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, 1990-07; Judge, District Court of Maryland for Prince George's County, Maryland, 1986-90; Judge, Orphans Court (Probate Court) for Prince George's County, Maryland, 1978-86; Managing Partner, Platt & Risner, 1976-86.

Experience: Served as a judge in the Maryland Courts for over 25 years, with 17 years on the Circuit Court. While serving as a Circuit Court Judge, responsible for management of all "Complex Civil Non-Family Cases" in the Court, which included the supervision of all settlement conferencing, mediating and scheduling of these medical malpractice, legal malpractice, business litigation, and products liability cases. Has also presided over many of these cases. Experience as a judge also includes employment matters involving discrimination, wage and hour disputes and the right to strike under collective bargaining contracts. Acknowledged architect of the Maryland Businesses Technology Case Management Program, which was cited as a model for the nation in articles appearing in The Business Lawyer, a publication of the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association, in Case In Point, the periodical of the National Judicial College, and in The Maryland Bar Journal.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience: Has taught the use of mediation and arbitration in resolving Business Disputes to Judges and Lawyers both in Maryland and nationally through both The Judicial Education Program of The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies (served on Judicial Advisory Board), and through The American College of Business Court Judges (Immediate Past- President). Experience as a neutral includes executive employment agreements and handbook plan disputes as well as wage and hour disputes and discrimination cases.

Upon retirement from the bench in early 2007, established The Platt Group, Inc., and is currently engaged in private mediation and arbitration of complex civil litigation including legal malpractice cases, medical malpractice cases, product liability cases, business disputes, real estate matters, and other civil cases.

In the past year, has served as sole arbitrator in five cases, totaling over $1 million in awards. A few sample cases include: (1) Board of Education of Prince George's County, Maryland, related to serious injuries to a minor student occurring on school property by another minor student. At issue in the dispute was whether the School Board was liable under a theory of negligent supervision for injuries that occurred prior to the opening of the school building. (2) multiple motor tort cases which resulted in claims for medical expenses, long term care and pain and suffering both for bodily injury and for long term cognitive disease and dysfunction that the plaintiffs alleged were suffered as a result of these accidents. These cases involved complex issues of causation of the alleged cognitive disease and dysfunction from the collision. (3) another motor tort case involved complex issues of causation, specifically the alleged contributory negligence of the plaintiff. (4) two additional motor tort cases concerned the nature and the extent of the plaintiffs' medical treatment; whether such treatment was excessive given the injuries. In both cases, expert witness testimony supporting their position was provided by both sides.

With regard to mediation, has served as a mediator in the following types of cases in the past two years: (1) twelve legal malpractice cases - at issue in these cases was the alleged negligence of the lawyer in conducting real estate transactions, the drafting of documents, the drafting of wills, and missing a statute of limitation; (2) 13 medical malpractice cases; (3) eight business disputes - one was a bankruptcy case relating to the value of intellectual property, licenses, distributor's rights and market shares. Another case involved a breach of contract claim between a publicly held homebuilding company and an advertising agency involving claims of fraud, commissions due, and owing and accountings; (4) nine class action cases involving credit card issuers, car dealerships, and physicians billing; (5) four construction disputes between owners, builders and subcontractors; and (6) 11 personal injury cases involving motor torts in which insurance coverage issues and the interpretation and ability of statutes in different states were at issue.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training AAA, Advanced Mediator Training, 2010; Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence Ethics Class, 2009; MICPEL, Effective Use of Mediation, Arbitration, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques in Commercial and Construction Disputes, 2009; AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New Arbitrators, 2008; Pepperdine University School of Law - Stratus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Specialized Mediation - Business, Medical Malpractice and Product Liability Disputes, 2007; MICPEL, Conflict Management - Making Business Better, 2007; MICPEL, Advanced Mediation of Business Disputes, 2004; MICPEL, Civil Mediation Training, 1998.

Professional Licenses: Admitted to the Bar: Maryland, 1975; Washington, D.C., 1976; U.S. District Court, Maryland, 1976; U.S. Supreme Court, 1981.

Professional Associations: American College of Business Court Judges (Immediate Past President); American Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section); Maryland State Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section); Prince George's County, Maryland Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section; Past President); Prince George's County Bar Association (Past President); Marlborough Inn of Court (Past President); AEI/Brookings Institute Joint Center for Regulatory Studies Judicial Education Program Judicial Education Program Advisory (Past Board Member); American Bar Foundation (Fellow); Maryland Bar Foundation (Lifetime Fellow); Prince George's Bar Foundation (Charter Fellow); Member, Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs; International Mediation Institute (IMI) Certified Mediator.

Publications: "Litigating the Existence, Extent and Scope of the Attorney-Client Relationship," MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL, Maryland State Bar Association, January/February 2007; "Today's Business/Technology Case Management Program," MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL, Maryland State Bar Association, November/December 2003; contributor, "Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions," MICPEL, 4th ed., 2003; "Managing Maryland's Judges," MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL, Maryland State Bar Association, July/August 1999; "Reinventing Maryland's Nisi Prius Courts for the Twenty-First Century," MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL, Maryland State Bar Association, March/April 1997.

Speakling Engagements: "Handling of Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases," Judicial Institute of Maryland, April 2007; "Health Courts and Administrative Compensation," Harvard School of Public Health and Common Good Foundation, November 2006; "Maryland Business and Technology Case Program," Institiute for Legal Reform - US Chamber of Commerce, July 2006; "Two Opposite Worlds Coalesce - Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program," Conference of Circuit Court Judges, December 2001; "Dispute Resolution in the 20th Century- A Judge's Perspective," National Association of Certified Valuation Analysists - Maryland Chapter, June 1997.

Education: University of Virginia (BA, Government and Public Administration-1969); American University, Washington College of Law (JD-1973).

BACKGROUND

Judge, Circuit Court for Prince George's County,Maryland (7th Judicial Circuit) (May 7, 1990-Date); Designated Supervising Judge, 7th Circuit Business/Technology Case Management Program (Jan. 2003 – Date); Designated Coordinating Judge, Criminal Operations (2001-2003); Designated Coordinating Judge, Family Division (1993-1997) .

Judge, District Court of Maryland for Prince George's County (5th Judicial District) (1986-1988); Designated Administrative Judge (1988-1990)

Judge, Orphans' Court (Probate Court) for Prince George's County, Maryland (1978-1985);Designated Chief Judge (1985-1986)

Private Practice of Law as Associate and Partner with Stern, Platt & Risner and Platt & Risner in Prince George's County, Maryland (1976-1986)

Law Clerk for the Honorable Ernest A. Loveless, Jr., Chief Judge, Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland (7th Judicial Circuit) (1973-1975)

Administrative and Legal Assistant for Steny H. Hoyer, then Maryland State Senator, now U.S.Congressman (1972-1973)

JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES - RECOGNITION

Member, Judicial Advisory Board, American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies Judicial Education Program (2004-2007).

Past President, American College of Business Court Judges (2005-2006).

Consultant, Court of Appeals of Maryland Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Special Subcommittees on Alternative Dispute Resolution and General Administration (1997-Date) .

Consultant to Russian Judiciary (St. Petersburg / Leningrad Region) on Law School Development,Jury Trials, Arbitrazh Court Administration through Vermont Karelia Rule of Law Project, Inc. and Russian American Rule of Law Consortium (RAROLC). Traveled to Russia and there conducted Briefings, Presented Papers, and verbally consulted on these matters (2003 – Date).

Consultant to Women Judges' Fund for Justice on "Family Violence and the Courts: Exploring Expert Testimony on Battered Women." Participated in Roundtable Discussion of Nationally Recognized Experts sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Justice in Washington, D.C. and Submitted Paper (May 1995).

Chairman, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland Strategic Planning Committee (1995-Date) Faculty, Maryland Judicial Institute (1995-Date).

Member, Maryland Judicial Conference & Committees:
Judicial Administration (1987-1990), Chairman (1989-1990)
Special Committee on Collection of Child Support, Chairman (1991-1992)
Long-range Planning (1990-1991)
Criminal Law Committee (1993-1995)
Mental Health, Alcoholism and Addiction (1990-1991)
Public Awareness (1995-97)
Drug Treatment Court Commission (2001-2003)

Member, Administrative Judges' Committee of District Court of Maryland (1988-1990) .

Member, American Judicature Society (1975-Date).

Member, Judicial Advisory Board AEI-Brookings Judicial Education Program (2004-2007).

BAR ASSOCIATION PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES - RECOGNITION

Life Fellow, The Maryland Bar Foundation

Charter Fellow, The Law Foundation of Prince George's County (1991-present), Member, Board of Directors (1995-97).

Faculty, Maryland State Bar Association Mandatory Course on "Professionalism"

Member, Maryland State Bar Association (1976-Date) Board of Governors (1988-1990) Section Council, Section of Judicial Administration (1989-1996); Chair (1996-98) Co-Chair, Special Committee on Judicial Personnel Management Issues (1995-97; Report issued 1998. Special Committee on Governance (1990) Committee on Laws (1986-Date) Litigation Section (1986-Date) Chair, Special Committee to Study Methods of Initiating Criminal Process in Maryland (1998-2000)

Member and Past President, Prince George's County Bar Association (1976-Date).

Member, American Bar Association (1976-Date).

Master of the Bench, Marlborough Inns of Court (1988- Date), Administrator (1990-1991), Treasurer/ Counselor (1991-1992), President (1992-1994).

Member, Board of Directors, Prince George's Law Library Educational Fund, Inc. (1988-1990).

Member, Board of Trustees, Montgomery-Prince George's Continuing Legal Education Institute (1988-1989).

Member, National Conference of Bar Presidents (1987-1989).

Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1975-1986).

Member, Delta Theta Phi National Legal Fraternity (1974-Date).

GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Chairman, Conference of Circuit Judges Business Technology Case Management Program Designated Judge RECOGNITION and Implementation Committee – (2001 - Date).

Vice-Chairman, Business and Technology Division Task Force created by the Maryland General Assembly (Report issued December 1, 2000).

Member, Prince George's County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (1997- 2001).

Member, Attorney General's Advisory Council on the Family Law Legal Needs of Low-Income Persons (1991).

Chairman and Initial Convener, Prince George's County Domestic Violence Coordinating Group (1987-1989) .

Chairman, Prince George's County Council Labor Law Revision Task Force (1981).

Chairman, Prince George's County Human Relations Commission (1977-1978).

Mentor, Prince George's County Human Relations Commission Leadership Development Forum (1986-Date).

Member, Adoption Advisory Committee, Prince George's County Department of Social Services (1977-1979).

CIVIC RECOGNITION

“INNOVATOR OF YEAR AWARD,” Daily Record Legal and Business Newspaper (2003).

“LEADERSHIP IN LAW AWARD,” Daily Record Legal and Business Newspaper (2001).

“DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD,” Washington College of Law, American University (1999);

“BEST OF THE BENCH, Listed as on of the Best Judges in Washington, D. C. Metropolitan area in an ” Article in Washingtonian Magazine, Volume 31, Number 12, September 1996 edition;

“CONFLICT RESOLUTION AWARD” of Prince George’s County Chapter National Conference (of Christians and Jews)(1995);

“DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO JUDICIARY AWARD,” Philippine Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington (1991);

“CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION,” Prince George's County Chapter Business & Professional Women (1984);

“CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION,” Lions Club (1983);

“CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION,” Kiwanis Club (1983);
Selected to appear in WHO’S WHO IN WASHINGTON (1982-Date);
Selected to appear in WHO'S WHO IN LAW (1987-Date);
Regional Board of Directors Prince George’s United Way (1979-1980)

EDUCATIONAL

1969 B.A. in Government & Public Administration, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

1973 Juris Doctorate. Washington College of Law, The American University, Washington, D.C.

1980 Certificate of Completion, Probate Court Proceedings Specialty Session for Judges. The National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.

1982 Certificate of Completion, Continuing Judicial Education Program. National College of Probate Judges, National Center for State Courts, Williamsburg, Virginia.

1988 Certificate of Completion, "Strengthening the Executive Component of the Court." Institute for Court Management of the National Center for State Courts, Williamsburg, Virginia.

1989 Certificate of Completion, "Alcohol and Drugs and the Courts." National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.

1998 Certificate of Completion, “Mediation Training,” MICPEL, University of Baltimore Law School, Baltimore, Maryland.

TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL POSITIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Instructor, Prince George’s County Police Criminal Justice Training Center (2000–Present)

Faculty, Legal Studies Program, University of Maryland (1982-Present)

Faculty, Paralegal/Law Enforcement Program, Prince George's Community College (1984-1993)

Member, Board of Trustees, Henson Valley Montessori School (1983-1984), Chairman (1985-1986)

PUBLICATIONS

“Today’s Business/Technology Case Management Program,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXXVI, No. 6, November/December 2003.

“Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions (Fourth Edition),” MICPEL, Baltimore, MD 2003.

“Drug Court Experiment: Policy Choice – Political Decision,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXXIV, No. 1, January/February 2001.

“The Victim’s Rights Amendment: A Prosecutor’s and Surprisingly a Defense Attorney’s Support in Sentencing,” University of Maryland Law Review, Vol. 59, No. 3, 2000.

“Managing Maryland’s Judges,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXXII, No. 4, July/August 1999.

“Reinventing Maryland’s Nisi Prius Courts for the Twenty-First Century,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXX, No. 2, March/April 1997.

“Commentary – Women Accused of Homicide: The Use of Expert Testimony on the Effect of Battering on Women—A Trial Judge’s Perspective,” University of Baltimore Law Review, Vol. 25, No. 1, Fall 1995.

“The Role of the Courts in the Crisis of Drugs and Violence/A Judge’s Perspective,” American Jails, Magazine of the American Jail Association, Volume VIII, No. 3, July/August 1994.

“Court’s Role in Drug and Violence Crisis,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXVII, No. 6, November/December 1994.

“The Court's Futurist Direction,” Maryland Bar Journal, Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore, MD, Vol. XXIII, No. 6, November/December 1990.

“Family Court. Do it Right, or Don’t Do it at All,” Maryland Family Law Monthly, April 1996.

“A Judicial Vote for the Slow Lane in the Drive for a Family Court,” The Daily Record, Vol. 211, No. 63, March 18, 1995.

“Family Court Concept Suffers from Legislative-Judicial Clash,” The Daily Record, Vol. 209, No. 246, October 23, 1993.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

"Handling of Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases," Judicial Institute of Maryland, April 2007;

"Health Courts and Administrative Compensation," Harvard School of Public Health and Common Good Foundation, November 2006

"Maryland Business and Technology Case Program," Institiute for Legal Reform - US Chamber of Commerce, July 2006

"Two Opposite Worlds Coalesce - Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program," Conference of Circuit Court Judges, December 2001

"Dispute Resolution in the 20th Century- A Judge's Perspective," National Association of Certified Valuation Analysists - Maryland Chapter, June 1997.

"ADR In Business Litigation," 2010 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. Panel Program of Business Law Section and Dispute Resolution Section.

DOB: January 1, 1947