The vast majority of personal injury cases in which Jim has been involved have been resolved through an orderly process of negotiation with insurance companies. A smaller number of cases are resolved through arbitration and, more recently, through mediation. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has taken hold in Sonoma County and is dramatically streamlining the process of personal injury litigation.

In arbitration both parties present evidence to an arbitrator who is usually appointed by the court. The arbitrator makes a decision as though he, or she, were a judge or jury. The process is relatively informal, yet presents an opportunity for both sides to set forth the evidence that they think best proves their case. The resulting decision often permits parties to see weaknesses in their cases and, in many cases, leads to early settlement of disputed cases.

Mediation is a distinctly different process. Rather than being called upon to make a decision in favor of one party or the other, a mediator works with both sides to try to find some common ground upon which they can agree to resolve their disputes. The Sonoma County Superior Court has an aggressive early mediation program that keeps cases that should settle out of the burdensome trial track.

Jim DeMartini has tried personal injury cases as simple as an automobile rear-end collision case and as complex as major products liability and wrongful death cases.

Mr. DeMartini is always willing to analyze an injury case and give his opinion as to whether a person should, or should not, pursue a claim.