Why mediate?

Mediation can be beneficial so long as the parties are willing to participate. That is the only true requirement. While frequently, people engage in mediation believing there is no chance of success, only to find the matter resolved by the end of the session. Other times, mediation can help to clarify each party's strengths and weaknesses, which can help to evaluate the future direction of the case. Even where settlement is not possible, much can be learned at the mediation. The benefits of mediator supervised communication cannot be overstated. After all, nothing gets resolved in mediation, or in life, without some communication.

Professional Background

Ronald Wilton's diverse and substantial civil litigation experience makes him uniquely positioned to mediate litigated cases ranging from simple to complex factual scenarios. For 30 years, Mr. Wilton has successfully balanced representation of both plaintiffs and defendants, not only in employment and personal injury matters, but also when representing persons or companies involved in business, commercial, real estate, construction, or contract disputes. This perspective has given Mr. Wilton insight and knowledge that often help to resolve multi-issue claims. While concentrating more recently on personal injury, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, wage/hour and other employment matters, Mr. Wilton still has found time to handle disputes involving wrongful death, fraud and misrepresentation, pregnancy discrimination, homeowner and condominium associations, neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, tree damage cases and landlord/tenant issues.

Mr. Wilton is available to provide services in a variety of contexts, such as when mediation is required by contract, such as provided by California Association of Realtors Purchase and Sales Agreements, employer promulgated plans, marital settlement agreements, trusts, or by court order.

ADR Style Description

Communication and flexibility are keys to any successful mediation. Mr. Wilton recognizes the time commitments made by all participants and seeks to expedite the proceedings without losing efficiency. He prefers pre-mediation phone calls and seeks to ascertain the areas of agreement and isolate the areas of disagreement. He listens to the parties and their counsel and believes progress toward a settlement can only be made when all participants believe their positions have been recognized and considered. Persons with the authority to resolve the case must be present at the mediation or immediately available by phone with consent from all parties.

Mr. Wilton's office includes free wi-fi, printing, telephone, word processing, and copying facilities. Generally, a binding agreement can be drafted, approved, printed, and signed, before the parties leave the office.

Written briefs are not necessary, but they are strongly recommended as a means to frame the disputed issues. Citations references are appreciated where the legal issues may be unique or in dispute. Relevant content is important, format is not. Briefs can be emailed, faxed, mailed, or delivered in advance of the hearing.

Case and Settlement Experience

Mr. Wilton has substantial case and settlement experience in the following general areas law:

• Assault and Battery
• Automobile Accidents
• Business Disputes
• Condominiums/Homeowners Associations [Common Interest Developments]
• Consumer Fraud
• Construction Defect
  • Commercial Construction
  • Professional Negligence
    • Engineers
    • Inspectors
  • Residential Construction
• Contract
  • Agreements based upon Conduct
  • Oral Agreements
  • Written Agreements
• Contractor Negligence/Fraud
• Conversion
• Damage to real and personal property
• Defamation
  • Libel
  • Media based Defamation
  • Slander
• Emotional Distress
• Employment
  • Disability
  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
    • Sexual Harassment [Gender Based]
    • Racial/National Origin Harassment
  • Retaliation
  • Wage and Hour
  • Wrongful Termination
• Entertainment
• Fraud and Deceit
• Fiduciary Responsibilities
  • Conservators
  • Trustees
• Indemnity Issues
  • Contractual
  • Implied
  • Statutory
• Invasion of Privacy
• Landlord/Tenant
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Neighbor Disputes
• Nuisance
• Partnership Disputes
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Professional Negligence
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
• Premises Liability
  • Slip and Fall
  • Trip and Fall
  • Failure to Disclose/Inspect
• Quiet Title
• Real Property Sales
• Strict Liability
• Torts
• Trees
  • Damage to Trees
  • Damages from Trees
• Trespass
• Truck Accidents
• Trusts / Estates
• Vicarious Liability
• Wrongful Death

Conveniently located to serve the following Counties:

Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Los Angeles Bar Association

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

Employment History

Coyle, Marrone & Robinson - Associate - 1981-1985

Schwartz & Wilton - Partner - 1985-1992

Wilton & Associates - Sole Practitioner - 1992-Present