AI Analysis:
This message directly answers the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator at Judicate West. The author, Michelle Hemesath, provides a clear personal recommendation of Gerald Agnew ('Gerry is absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend him'), describes her experience with him, notes his background as a former medical malpractice plaintiff attorney, highlights his strengths ('truly understands the medicine and is very good with clients'), and mentions his post-mediation follow-up practice when cases don't settle. This is precisely the kind of firsthand practitioner experience and recommendation about Gerald Agnew's effectiveness as a mediator/neutral that someone asking this question would want to know.
Gerry is absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend him. He was a former medical malpractice plaintiff attorney. He truly understands the medicine and is very good with clients. If your case does not settle at mediation, he will follow up afterwards. Michelle Buxton Hemesath IKUTA HEMESATH LLP Medical Malpractice Attorney 3655 Torrance Blvd., Ste. 337 Torrance CA 90503 Tel: (949) 229-5654 Fax: (949) 203-2162 Cell: (310) 418-3486 Michelle@ih-llp.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This transmittal is a confidential attorney-client communication or may otherwise be privileged or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmittal in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this transmittal is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify this office immediately by reply or by telephone at (949) 229-5654 and immediately delete this message and all of its attachments, if any.
AI Analysis:
This message directly addresses the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator at Judicate West. The author, Puneet Toor, provides a personal recommendation of Gerald Agnew based on direct experience working with him, describes him as 'a very experienced litigator and extremely knowledgeable about med mal and civil lit generally,' and explicitly recommends him. The author also reports positive feedback from colleagues who have used him as a mediator and were 'happy with his level of expertise and the results.' This directly answers the user's question about whether to recommend, use, or avoid Gerald Agnew as a mediator, and speaks to his experience, qualifications, and effectiveness — all core elements of what the user is seeking to learn.
"Puneet Toor" Date: March 11, 2025 2:34:00 PM Subject: Re: Gerald Agnew, Esq. - Judicate West Mediator Reply to list Reply to sender Print I had the pleasure of working for Gerry (and Bruce) as a young lawyer. He is obviously a very experienced litigator and extremely knowledgeable about med mal and civil lit generally. I would argue he has a plaintiff lawyers’ heart and definitely recommend him. I’ve also gotten a lot of positive feedback from friends and colleagues that have used him and have been happy with his level of expertise and the results. Puneet K. Toor Attorney Toor Law, APC Orange County 245 Fischer Avenue, Suite D1 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Temecula 43460 Ridge Park Drive Suite 200-R Temecula, CA 92590 T: 949.652.6560 F: 949.652.6960 This communication, including any attachments, may contain confidential and/or proprietary information (and, in some cases information protected by either or both doctrines of attorney-client privilege and attorney work-product), and is intended only for the individual(s) or entity or entities to whom the communication is addressed. Any review, dissemination, or copying of this email by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If you are not an intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email, and delete and destroy all copies of the original message.
AI Analysis:
This message directly addresses the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator — specifically whether to recommend, use, or avoid him. The author Joe Barrett explicitly endorses Gerald Agnew (referred to as 'Gerry Agnew'), calling him a 'Legendary trial lawyer, former CAALA President, great mediator' and stating he would take Agnew over another proposed mediator (Kuhn). This constitutes a direct recommendation and positive assessment of Gerald Agnew's qualifications and value as a mediator, which is precisely what the user's question seeks. The message also appears in the context of a thread where attorneys are evaluating potential mediators including Gerald Agnew for an actual case, making it highly substantive and practice-relevant. A reader would learn that at least one experienced attorney strongly recommends Gerald Agnew as a mediator based on his background and experience.
"Joe Barrett" Date: April 16, 2026 5:48:00 PM Subject: Re: Potential Mediators Reply to list Reply to sender Print Gerry Agnew is the take. Legendary trial lawyer, former CAALA President, great mediator. Jay Horton would be fine. I’d take both over Kuhn. Joseph M. Barrett, Esq. Trial Lawyers for the People 845 Avenue B Redondo Beach, CA 90277 jmb@thebarrettlawyers.com Cell: (310) 944-5236 Fax: (310) 759-0566 www.TheBarrettLawyers.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, may contain confidential information that is legally privileged and may be protected by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC §§ 2510-2521 . It is intended solely for the recipient addressee listed above and may not be forwarded or sent to any other recipient in any form. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately advise by replying to JMB@TheBarrettLawyers.com or by calling (310) 944-5236 and destroy the original transmission and its attachments without reading or saving them in any manner. Thank you. From: Damon Rogers (caala-workproduct listserver) <listsender-caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2026 3:42 PM To: CAALA Work Product Discussion List <caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Subject: [caala-workproduct] Potential Mediators List: caala-workproduct Sent by: Damon Rogers (Reply Privately) Search Good afternoon! Defendant City of Hermosa Beach is proposing the following mediators on a trip/fall case: Gerald Agnew Steve Kuhn Jay Horton They are also open to other suggestions. Thoughts?
AI Analysis:
The user's real question seeks substantive information about Gerald Agnew as a mediator — specifically recommendations, experiences, settlement outcomes, and whether to use or avoid him. This message is partially relevant: it mentions Gerald Agnew by full name as part of a compiled list of recommended mediators/arbitrators for UIM matters, which at minimum confirms he is known in this community as a mediator worth considering. However, the message provides no substantive detail about Agnew specifically — no personal experience, no recommendation with reasoning, no settlement outcomes, no commentary on his effectiveness as a neutral. Howard Blumenthal's reply only praises Judicate West generally and does not mention Agnew at all. The message confirms Agnew's existence on a recommendation list but does not help the user understand what working with him is actually like. It is marginally useful as a data point (he appears on a peer-compiled list of recommended mediators) but falls well short of directly answering the real question about his quality, effectiveness, or whether to use or avoid him.
"Howard Blumenthal" Date: November 10, 2025 3:11:00 PM Subject: Re: Help- Need recommendations from CAALA list for UIM mediators Reply to list Reply to sender Print I am curious too. As to judicate west have used them for 98 percent of my mediation/arbitrations and always found them to be the best Howard Blumenthal Managing Attorney 16001 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200 Encino, CA 91436 Phone: 833.ACTS LAW (833.228.7529) Fax: 424.288.4368 hblumenthal@actslaw.com www.actslaw.com This E‑mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510‑2521 and is legally privileged. This info is confidential and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, Distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please immediately notify Abir Cohen Treyzon Salo, LLP and destroy the message. From: Farah Kandah (caala-workproduct listserver) <listsender-caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 9:01 AM To: CAALA Work Product Discussion List <caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Subject: Re: [caala-workproduct] Help- Need recommendations from CAALA list for UIM mediators List: caala-workproduct Sent by: Farah Kandah (Reply Privately) Search Hi Robin, Is there any reason you don't want to use Judicate West, ADR, or IVAMS? I am currently working on a list of arbitrators/mediators, but it seems everyone on my list is either Judicate West (mostly) or ADR. This is what I have come up with so far: Edward A. Fernandez, Esq. Hon. Christopher Warner, Ret. Janet Rubin Fields, Esq. Jeffrey A. Rudman, Esq. Gerald Agnew, Esq. Hon. Linda S. Marks, Ret. Hon. Bryan F. Foster, Ret. Hon. David A. Rosen, Ret. Amy Fisch Solomon, Esq. Hon. Mark V. Mooney, Ret. Hope this helps. Thank you, Farah A. Kandah, Esq. KANDAH LAW, APC 21550 Oxnard St., 3 rd Floor Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Tel: (818) 594-5558 Fax: (818) 697-0146 Confidentiality Notice: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. From: Robin Haulman (caala-workproduct listserver) < listsender-caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com > Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:20 AM To: CAALA Work Product Discussion List < caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com > Subject: [caala-workproduct] Help- Need recommendations from CAALA list for UIM mediators List: caala-workproduct Sent by: Robin Haulman (Reply Privately) Search Dear Listmates: Does anyone have a recommendation for a simple UIM mediation with a mediator who is not with Judicate West, ADR, or IVAMS? We are contemplating 2-3 hours. Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions. Best regards, Robin Haulman Law Offices of Robin L. Haulman 343 Harvard Avenue Claremont CA 91711 T: (909) 624-0533 F: (909) 624-0543 C: (951) 316-5060 "The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." -Victor Frankl STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL/SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE/ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT Confidentiality Note: This e-mail (and any attachments hereto) is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. Dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail or the information contained herein by anyone other than the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately (telephone (909) 624-0533 (U.S.A.) or e-mail " ilitigate4you@gmail.com ") and destroy the original message and all copies. Thank you.
AI Analysis:
This message relates to the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator at Judicate West — the subject line references 'Gerald Agnew, Esq. - Judicate West Mediator,' which is directly on-topic. However, the body of the message contains only the sender's contact information (name, firm, address, phone, fax) with no substantive content whatsoever. There is no recommendation, opinion, experience, or any information about mediation, settlement outcomes, or whether to use or avoid Gerald Agnew. A reader would learn nothing about the real question from this message. It appears to be a reply stub or signature-only message with no actual text. Therefore, it is not relevant.
Andrew C. Bryman BRYMAN & APELIAN 28632 Roadside Drive, Suite 200 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Office (818)225-5151 Fax (818)225-5155
AI Analysis:
This message does not help answer the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator, including recommendations, experiences, or opinions about using or avoiding him for mediation/settlement. The message is merely a subject line and email header from a CAALA listserv thread requesting UIM mediator recommendations generally. There is no substantive content visible — no mention of Gerald Agnew, no recommendations, no experiences shared, and no discussion of mediation outcomes. The message body appears to be empty or was not captured. It is entirely unrelated to the user's question about Gerald Agnew specifically.
From: Robin Haulman (caala-workproduct listserver) <listsender-caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:20 AM To: CAALA Work Product Discussion List <caala-workproduct@lists.trialsmith.com> Subject: [caala-workproduct] Help- Need recommendations from CAALA list for UIM mediators
AI Analysis:
This message does not address the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator. The message discusses mediators for a wrongful death medical malpractice case and mentions 'Horton' and 'Judge Hilberman' — neither of whom is Gerald Agnew. There is no mention of Gerald Agnew anywhere in the message. Since the real question specifically seeks information about Gerald Agnew (recommendations, experiences, whether to use or avoid him as a mediator/neutral in settlement), this message provides zero relevant information to answer that question.
Horton is probably the most popular of the bunch. Judge Hilberman, who was a med mal defense attorney before he was on the bench, is my favorite. I've had some good results with him, ______________________________________ Howard A. Kapp, Esq. Law Offices of Howard A. Kapp 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 514 Los Angeles, California 90010 Website: www.kapplaw.com office (213) 927-8000 cell: (323) 820-8661 Reply to howardkapp@gmail.com ______________________________________ Please consider the environment before printing this email. This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail, and destroy all copies of the original message in accordance with Rico vs. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (2007) 42 Cal.4th 807, 817, 68 Cal.Rptr.3d 758.
AI Analysis:
This message does not help answer the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator — including recommendations, experiences, settlement outcomes, or whether to use or avoid him. The message is a brief historical note about Geoff Gray's professional association with Jay Horton at the firm Horton, Barbaro & Reilly in the 1990s. It contains no mention of Gerald Agnew, no discussion of mediation experiences, and provides no information relevant to evaluating Gerald Agnew as a neutral or mediator. It is entirely off-topic relative to the real question.
And for those who did not know this (because I worked at Horton, Barbaro & Reilly in the 90s) Geoff Gray was the long time associate of Jay Horton.
AI Analysis:
This message does not help answer the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator — including recommendations, experiences, settlement outcomes, or whether to use or avoid him. The message contains only a signature block/contact information from attorney Alan Kang, with no substantive content whatsoever. There is no mention of Gerald Agnew, no discussion of mediation experiences, no recommendations, and no information about any mediator. The subject line references a 'wrongful death med mal case' mediator search, but the body of the message provides zero relevant content to answer the real question.
Alan Kang, Attorney 333 City Blvd West Fl 17 Orange, CA 92868 (714)388-6937 ph. (855)820-1099 fax www.aklawacpc.com This email may contain information that is confidential or attorney-client privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are directed not to disclose this transmission and delete it. Further, unless a separate attorney-client agreement is executed, no attorney-client relationship is formed through e-mail correspondence. USPS Mail: If you are sending electronic mail, please do not send duplicate hard copies by postal mail, our offices are moving to a paperless goal for the environment.
AI Analysis:
The message is completely empty — it contains no sender, no subject line, and no body text. There is no content to evaluate against the user's real question about Gerald Agnew as a mediator, including recommendations, experiences, settlements, or opinions on whether to use or avoid him. An empty message cannot answer or address the real question in any way.