Southern California.
Hon. Douglas W. Stern, Ret.
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Retired
Judge Douglas Stern served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2013 until his retirement in 2025. His assignments included an Independent Calendar unlimited-jurisdiction civil courtroom in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, an Independent Calendar assignment in the Torrance Courthouse, and a civil trial courtroom handling personal injury and unlawful detainer matters. Earlier, he also presided over unlawful detainer and small claims calendars.
Before joining the bench, Judge Stern spent 35 years as a civil litigator in state and federal courts, handling complex pre-trial, trial, and appellate matters across antitrust, real property, commercial disputes, corporate litigation, tort and product liability, and insurance litigation.
Judge Stern is recognized for his extensive complex-litigation experience, calm and structured approach to dispute resolution, and ability to bring parties together in highly adversarial matters. He has conducted and participated in numerous settlement discussions, mediations, and complex pre-trial negotiations throughout his career.
Practice Areas
- Business and Commercial Disputes
- Contract Disputes
- Real Estate
- Product Liability
- Personal Injury
- Bad Faith
- Class Action
- Arbitrator
- Complex Litigation
- Discovery – Civil
- Habitability
Conflict Resolution Experience
Judge Stern’s combined judicial and litigation backgrounds give him unusually broad experience across the full spectrum of dispute resolution. Over his 35-year litigation career, he handled complex, multi-party matters—including months-long antitrust trials, real estate and title disputes, construction cases, partnership and corporate conflicts, catastrophic tort claims, and class actions. During his years in practice, he represented both plaintiffs and defendants, giving him an appreciation for the strategies, pressures, and expectations on all sides of a dispute. This depth of experience equips him to quickly grasp complicated factual records and legal frameworks in mediation and arbitration.
His experience also extends to mandamus proceedings, injunctions, writ practice, TROs, and all aspects of discovery and trial preparation—areas where the ability to balance urgency, fairness, and procedural precision is critical.
In addition, Judge Stern served as an Adjunct Professor at USC Law School, teaching Remedies, and authored writings on trial practice, eviction law, and courtroom procedure. His teaching and publications reflect the analytical clarity and communication skills that he now brings to his role as a neutral.
Organizations & Achievements
- Award of Merit – National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (Pro Bono)
- Selected as “Super Lawyer,” Business Litigation (2005)
- Conservationist of the Year, Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society (2001)
- Multiple commendations and proclamations from California legislators and local governments
- Former Mayor (two terms) and Councilmember, City of Rancho Palos Verdes (1999–2011)
- Chairman and long-time Member, Palos Verdes Peninsula Law Enforcement Commission
- Trustee/President, Los Angeles County West Vector Control District
- Trustee, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
- President, Rancho Palos Verdes Council of Homeowners’ Associations (two terms)
- Professional Memberships include:
- California and Federal Courts (U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit, all California District Courts)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
Education & Training
- J.D., UCLA School of Law – Member, UCLA Law Review (1978)
- A.B. cum laude, UCLA – Political Science & Economics, with Honors (1975)
- Judicial Extern, Hon. Robert F. Peckham, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court (N.D. Cal.)
- Congressional Extern, Hon. Del M. Clawson, U.S. Congress
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Testimonials From People We’ve Helped
Very professional place to mediate a legal matter. Many places to have a private conversation, comfortable surroundings
Linda L Mitchell
Honorable Mary Thornton House mediated over our impossible case. I never thought this could get resolved, as we were stuck on both sides for almost 4 years. Honorable Mary Thornton House listened to both sides and was able to communicate in a way that both sides understood. She was tenacious, diligent and had attention to details with the accounting and figures presented. We went back and forth into the night. But, she was able to calmly able to get a resolution on both sides. The honorable judge said that in ruling a case in court. You have an instant friend and a permanent enemy. In this case, I received a fair resolution. Grateful, that I did not have to go to court. Glad that our case got resolved. I highly recommend honorable Mary Thornton House