This is the property of the Daily Journal Corporation and fully protected by copyright. It is made available only to Daily Journal subscribers for personal or collaborative purposes and may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, stored or transferred without written permission. Please click "Reprint" to order presentation-ready copies to distribute to clients or use in commercial marketing materials or for permission to post on a website. and copyright (showing year of publication) at the bottom.
Subscribe to the Daily Journal for access to Daily Appellate Reports, Verdicts, Judicial Profiles and more...

Jan. 3, 2020

Smartness is the goal

Michael Balmages aims to get attorneys out of trouble with their clients, and help the parties reach settlement.

Read more about Michael Balmages...
ADR Services Inc.
business litigation, breach of contract, unfair competition, dissolution, trade secrets, employment law, disability law, claims against governmental agencies

IRVINE — With a pragmatic approach to mediation, neutral Michael G. Balmages of ADR Services Inc. emphasizes “smartness” over “fairness.” “I tell the litigants that I am not going to tell them that it is ‘fair’ to settle, or that any particular proposed settlement is ‘fair,’” Balmages said. “Fairness has little to do with it and I do not know what is ‘fair’. What it may be is smart to settle. ‘Smartness’ is the goal, not ‘fairness.’”

$95

Already a subscriber?

Sign up for Daily Journal emails