Please contact mark@ashworth-law.com or grace@hodgesbemis.com for references AND to schedule your case
Educational and Professional Background
Education: Brigham Young University 1972; Western State College of Law, 1978. State Bar of California, 1978. Mr. Ashworth was a founding member of Smith & Ashworth. Thereafter, Mr. Ashworth organized the firm of Ashworth, Hayes & Moran, LLP. In 2006, the firm became known as Ashworth & Ashworth, LLP when Mr. Ashworth’s daughter, Carissa Ashworth-Johnson became a partner. Thereafter, Michael Christopher Ashworth joined the firm. There are two partners in the firm in addition to support staff and other personnel. Mr. Ashworth has settled, arbitrated, mediated or litigated through trial hundreds of cases during the past thirty-nine years as an attorney. He continues his litigation practice defending chiropractors and other professionals and small businesses.
Litigation Experience
Mr. Ashworth has tried more than 40 jury trials to verdict and over 300 bench trials, including family law disputes, throughout the entire State of California. Additionally, he has litigated over 200 arbitrations through binding arbitration. He is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. His trial experience is an asset in mediation: he can clearly explain what the trial experience is about versus the mediation experience. This is fundamentally important to most client attorneys and their party litigants...so that they understand that they can control the mediation process, which is the same control they lose during the trial process. Mr. Ashworth knows he is hired by the attorneys, so he uses this information at the direction of his "boss"... the attorney hiring him. "It is my job to listen...then use my skill set and move a civil litigated case to a peaceful resolution."
Mediation Experience
California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
www.CaliforniaNeutrals.org Straus Institute Graduate (Mediating the Litigated Case). Member: Superior Court Arbitrator Panel, 1987 - present. Judge Pro Tem, mediation panelist for the Superior Court, 1992 – 2018. Court assigned Discovery Referee. Private ADR: Since 1984 Mr. Ashworth has mediated civil litigated cases with attorney represented litigants but continues his litigation practice as well defending chiropractors and other professionals.
Approach
Facilitative, integrative bargaining with some distributive bargaining components...it all depends on the case. I am rarely directive unless the attorneys, parties and the nature of the dispute beg for guidance. Primarily, I want the attorneys who hire me to be heard and collaborate in the settlement process that I help facilitate.
As for Discovery Referee and Contractual Arbitrations: review the facts and law and follow the California Evidence Code, the CCP and other California Laws.
Fees
$350.00 per hour with a four hour minimum, see the Fee Schedule tab.
Primary Areas of Practice
- Lemon Law Cases
- Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Cases
- Business and Construction Cases
- Elder Abuse Cases
- Court and party assigned discovery referee (CCP section 639)
References will be provided upon request.
Please contact grace@hodgesbemis.com or mark@ashworth-law.com for references AND to schedule your mediation.
