Hon. Luis A. Cardenas (Ret.) joined JAMS as a mediator, arbitrator, and discovery referee in 1996 following more than 20 years on the bench. He has since earned a reputation for settling the vast majority of matters submitted to him for mediation and for granting fair arbitration awards that reflect an in-depth knowledge of the law. Judge Cardenas is also regarded for assisting the courts in complex litigation with his scholarly reports and recommendations.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Resolved hundreds of matters as a mediator and arbitrator including:
  • Business disputes involving contract, accounting, auditing, trade secret, communications-media, and franchise issues
  • Employment related issues including gender, racial, and religious discrimination; sexual harassment; and wrongful termination
  • Construction defect cases involving both discovery as well as mediation proceedings evolving out of commercial properties, individual residences, housing developments, and community litigation
  • Family law matters involving all issues of custody, support, property, accounting, tracing, and marital settlement agreements
  • Personal injury matters with high dollar claims, as well as smaller matters done individually or through the mediation-day process; including automobile and boating accidents, wrongful death, and product liability matters
  • Real estate disputes including contracts and leases on industrial properties as well as hotels and restaurants
  • Insurance matters including coverage, bad faith, indemnification, etc.
  • Education and school disputes arising out of transfer and suspensions of students, disciplinary proceedings against staff, and children with special needs
  • Medical, dental, and legal malpractice matters
  • Numerous court reference matters under 638 and 639 of the Code of Civil Procedure, preparing over one hundred Reports of Findings and Recommendations to the Superior Court
• Heard hundreds of court and jury trials to verdict during his twenty years as a judicial officer
• Generated a new format for Case Management Orders that provides for less discovery, reduced disputes, and cost savings to all parties

Representative Matters

• Franchise dispute involving millions of dollars between two national food chains
• Contract dispute between a local Planet Hollywood restaurant and the corporate franchiser
• Construction defect case involving a seven-figure claim arising out of a large residential development and numerous sub-contractors
• Pregnant female police officer suing for gender discrimination
• African-American school principal claiming racial bias
• Multi-million dollar class action for investment fraud involving over 20,000 victims
• Four-month Family Law hearing involving millions of dollars arising out of issues of transmutation of property, pensions, Watts charges, Epstein credits, characterization of marital property, and other issues
• Two-year series of mediations involving special education programs for handicapped children at the Los Angeles Unified School District
• Medical malpractice case involving permanent loss of eyesight and claim for millions in compensation
• Complicated accounting dispute between two Hollywood movie studios resulting in a multi-million dollar award
• Class actions for wage & hour issues and related disputes

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• The only judge in Orange County to receive a commendation from the State Legislature upon his elevation to the bench
• Recognized as “Judge of the Year” by the Orange County Women’s Bar Association and the West Court Bar Association
• Winner of the Albert Schweitzer Award from the Orange County Grand Jury
• Received recognition for his contributions to the law by Loyola Law School and the Mexican-American Bar Association of Orange County
• Current member of the California State Bar
• Prior member of the California Judge’s Association

ADR Profile

• "Engendering Trust," Daily Journal, ADR Profile, January 5, 2018

Background and Education

• Judge, Superior Court, Orange County, 1980-1996
• Presiding Judge, West Court Operations, 1985-1996
• Judge, Municipal Court, North Orange County, 1976-1980
• Assistant and Presiding Judge, 1978 and 1979
• J.D., Loyola Law School at Los Angeles, 1968
• B.A., University of California at Los Angeles, 1965