
Michael S. Fields, Esq.,
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Arbitrator and Mediator Services
An Independent and Experienced Personal Injury Arbitrator, Mediator, and Referee
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(562) 597-5399; msflb@aol.com

Publications
Publications
For over 30 years, I have written for legal publications and journals. Some of my published writings include:
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“Recovering Punitive Damages,” September 1992, author and editor [cover article and photograph], Los Angeles Lawyer magazine, Los Angeles County Bar Association;
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“Party Arbitrators,” September 1992, Advocate magazine;
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“Practical Notes for the Trial Attorney.” December 1999, Advocate magazine;
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California Practice Handbook: Tort Damages, chief contributing editor, 1992-1994, Matthew Bender publisher;
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“California Points and Authorities, volume entitled “Negligence,” contributor and editor, 1994, Matthew Bender publisher;
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“Court Ordered Mediation is Here,” February 1994, Advocate magazine;
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“California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Vol. 4, regarding California contractual arbitrations, contributor and editor, 1994-2000, [my name is on the spine of this volume], Matthew Bender publisher;
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“The Impact of Contractual Arbitration Litigation,” Summer 1997, Litigation Section Newsletter, Los Angeles County Bar Association;
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“New Ways to Calculate Setoffs,” February 1998, Advocate magazine;
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“Party Arbitrators in California,” April 1999, Advocate magazine;
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Kaiser Arbitrations and Contractual Arbitrations in California,” July/August 1998, CTLA Forum magazine;
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“California Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice,” contributed, edited, and updated the contract arbitration chapters, 1999-2001, [my name is on the spine of this practice book], Matthew Bender publisher;
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“California Motions in Limine,” 2000, Advisory Board member, Esquire One Publishing Company;
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“California Causes of Action,” 2000, Advisory Board member, James Publishing Company;
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“Federal Preemption and the Future of California Arbitration Agreements,” November 1, 2000, California Litigation magazine;
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“Contingent Fee Agreements, Attorney Liens, and Advanced Costs,” April 2020, CAOC Forum magazine;
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“Discovery in Uninsured Motorist Cases,” January 2005, Advocate magazine;
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“Discovery in Contract Arbitration,” Second Quarter 2005, California Litigation magazine;
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“A lien guide for the trial attorney,” December 2005, Advocate magazine;
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“Federal Preemption and the Future of California Arbitration Agreements,” California Litigation magazine;
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“Compendium on California contractual arbitrations,” self-published several years ago with annual updates;
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“Lien Guide for the Trial Attorney,” eight lien claim self-published compendiums regarding Medicare, Medi-Cal, contractual, workers’ compensation, hospital, Civil Code section 3040, attorney, and government tort lien claims;
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“Health care plan lien claim-negotiation— a simplification of Civil Code section 3040,” November 2016, Advocate magazine;
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“Avoiding Consumer Arbitration Costs and Arbitrator’s Fees,” April 2017, Advocate magazine;
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“Lien guide for the trial attorney, a compendium on attorney liens for contingent fees,” a two-part article on the new California State Bar ethics rules and attorney lien claims for fees, October 2018 and November 2018. Advocate magazine;
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“Medicare Advantage lien claims: The other Medicare lien,” November 2019, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“Liens galore, an updated summary of lien claims for plaintiffs’ attorneys,” September 2020; Advocate magazine;
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“Ethical standards for neutral and party-appointed arbitrators,” November 2020, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“Discovery referees: A useful tool to expedite the trial process,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, page 4, December 24, 2020;
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“Discovery referee appointments,” September 2021, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“When does the mediation process begin and end?” September 2021, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“Private judging with a stipulated ‘temporary judge” September 2022, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“When conduct or impoverishment waives the right to compel arbitration,” July 2023 [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“Personal injury late-claim applications,” May 2024, Advocate magazine;
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“Federal Arbitration Act basics: a quick look at the federal act that dominates many arbitrations,” September 2024, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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“Enforceable written mediation settlement agreements—an exception to mediation confidentiality,” September 2025, [issue editor] Advocate magazine;
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Since 2015, ghostwritten chapter updates for a major set of California civil procedure books. (Substantially updated the contractual arbitration and mediation sections).
Inquiry Form
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