What others have to say
From Los Angeles, a partIner in one of the largest defense firms in California says:
" I have had the pleasure of working with Rob Kaplan as a mediator on one of my more difficult and very contentious coverage matters. When the mediation commenced, the parties were millions of dollars apart. Although we did not resolve the case at mediation, it was settled shortly thereafter due primarily to Rob's insight and persistence. Rob is one of the most insightful, creative, and hard-working mediators I have ever had the pleasure of working with."
From Orange County, a 30-year solo practitioner who does plaintiff and defense Business litigation says:
"I can't say enough about Robert Kaplan's mediation skills. I expect a mediator to be tireless. I expect a mediator to be prepared. I expect a mediator to challenge the evidence and legal reasoning of both sides. . . I've experienced some, but not all, of those attributes in past mediations, but ALL of those attributes in the mediation with Robert Kaplan."
From San Diego, former president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel says:
"Rob has extraordinary intuition. He raises the creativity bar in the dispute resolution process to new heights."
An individual defendant in a contentious Wrongful Termination employment case, wrote the following:
"Dear Mr. Kaplan - I want to take a moment to thank you for all your hard work with both sides on our case. Closure for me means that the integrity of my name was preserved and that truth and honesty did indeed prevail.
You are truly gifted in your field and in addition to all your hard work, I want to thank you for your fairness, your honesty and your true integrity".
A plaintiff attorney in Orange County, who is one of less than 100 California attorneys who are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial specialist, says:
"I had a contentious [sexual assault] case with multiple defendants, complex coverage issues, liability disputes, and an exceptionally disturbed, irrational plaintiff with unreasonable expectations. I figured it was going to trial. . . . Rob pushed all the right buttons. He listened, he perceived the obstacles to resolution, he candidly shared personal experiences with the plaintiff to develop rapport and then he relentlessly did everything necessary to achieve settlement. His services were a bargain. In the jargon of car salespersons, he is truly a 'closer.'"
A partner from one of the largest nationwide Employment firm says:
"Rob - Once again, you did a fantastic job in facilitating the settlement of the [XYZ] matter. Of course, by now, I almost take it for granted (although I really don't because I truly value the skill set you bring to the mediation table.)
You should know that the person representing the insurance company (who is a very experienced attorney) was extremely impressed as well. You started off by demonstrating that you read and understood the briefs, and honed right in on the key issue. He was also impressed by your assessment of this matter and your creativity in getting the deal done. Of course, none of this is news to me!"
A named partner in a firm that does both defense and plaintiff work says:
"Rob's skills in dealing with the "human dynamic" were, in my view, solely responsible for the parties [in my case] being able to resolve this litigation."
Plaintiff's attorney from Pasadena, in a legal malpractice case arising out of a medical malpractice case, says:
"Dear Rob: I wanted to thank you again for your persistence in resolving our case. We had been to five previous settlement conferences and had never gotten close to a settlement before we came to you. This case involved a stubborn doctor, a dying plaintiff, an angry wife, and one very angry law firm. I take my hat off to you for the unique manner in which you effected settlement of the most difficult case I can remember being involved in. Congratulations - and thank you!"
A partner in a defense firm with offices on the East and West Coasts says:
"Dear Rob: I just wanted to thank you for your superb work in bringing about a settlement in the [ X,Y,Z ] matter. I've been doing this 30 years, and I've never seen a more diligent effort to follow up, bring two poles-apart sides together, and then make sure the deal is closed. After the initial mediation session MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, it was your regular phone calls that kept settlement on the radar screens of parties who thought trial was inevitable. Then, as trial approached, your telephonic shuttle diplomacy brokered a deal that would have been impossible otherwise. The deal was fair to both sides -- everybody owes you a huge debt of gratitude. Thanks again! "
From Pasadena, 2 named partners in a prominent plaintiffs' firm specializing in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases sent the following handwritten letters:
"Dear Rob - Thanks for doing such an excellent job on the 'Smith' case. You are, quite simply, the best.
Rob - you just have magic on getting settlements done. You keep surprising me in what you can do. Thanks again for effort above and beyond what can be expected to once again get parties to resolve their differences. You are in a class by yourself."
A plaintiff (blind from birth) sent the following letter :
"Dear Mr. Kaplan: I am writing to thank you for the important role you played as Mediator in my case... Because of your assistance in settling my case, I feel more secure about my financial condition into the future... Because of your assistance in these negotiations, a major source of stress has been eliminated from my life. With less stress, my body will, I fervently hope, be able to heal faster. I thought you might be interested in seeing something in Braille, so I am enclosing a copy of this letter in Braille. The Braille and print copies say exactly the same thing. Mr. Kaplan, my attorneys told me you worked really hard on this case. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."
Plaintiff's counsel in a highly contentious case says (in an email to Mr. Kaplan's case manager):
Thanks for letting me know about the last minute cancellation in Rob's schedule. I MADE it work, because it was an opportunity for my clients that I could not pass up. Before heading into this nasty, ugly and protracted trial, it was critical that I be CERTAIN that there was no chance this case can settle. The only person I am aware of that will bring me that degree of certainty is Rob Kaplan. Thank you so much for accommodating us.
[PS - the case settled after a full-day session and several hours of Rob’s trademark persistent telephonic follow-up!]"
Following the settlement of a multi-million dollar Wrongful Death case, the claims person (who had flown out from the East Coast to attend the mediation) says:
"I believe Rob's insight, professionalism and neutrality was outstanding and produced a result simply not obtainable prior to his participation."
One of the defense attorneys involved in 5 cases mediated by Mr. Kaplan says:
"Our recent mediation with Robert J. Kaplan, Esq. involved five civil cases from various states and federal court districts. And a divorce action. And administrative proceedings. And parties with intensely powerful emotional investments who were asserting purportedly principal 'money is no object' contentions on all sides.
A neutral who used the wrong approach at any point would have quickly driven one or more of the various parties or their counsel away from the bargaining table. Mr. Kaplan's manner, character, personality and persistence combined to craft a solution to a veritable blizzard of disputes that seemed (to the lay and professional people involved, and even to the federal court judge who referred us to Mr. Kaplan) simply insoluble. I almost still don't believe he did it. "