Hon. John Zebrowski

Hon. John Zebrowski (Ret)

ADR Practice, 1999 - present:
Since leaving the California Court of Appeal in November, 1999, Justice Zebrowski has conducted a full-time ADR practice. His practice covers a spectrum of business-related matters, including contracts and commercial transactions, insurance, entertainment, intellectual property, real estate, environmental, banking and finance, securities, partnership and corporate disputes, business torts, professional liability (other than medical malpractice), employment and similar matters.

Justice Zebrowski's primary areas of ADR activity are mediation and arbitration. He also conducts temporary judge trials, references and other adjudicatory proceedings, consults on appeals and major motions, and provides analysis of litigation, arbitration and mediation strategy. On occasion Justice Zebrowski also accepts discovery references.

Justice Zebrowski's ADR practice has included cases ranging from quite modest in size to those involving tens and hundreds of millions of dollars, and also cases in which non-monetary issues predominated. Although he has worked in New York, Washington, Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, San Diego, Fresno and other cities, the bulk of his work is done in Los Angeles County.

Justice Zebrowski is listed on the Panel of Distinguished Neutrals maintained by New York's CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution. In 2004, Justice Zebrowski was named by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the "Top 50" neutrals in California. In 2006, he was named one of the "Top 30." In 2007, Justice Zebrowski was named one of Hollywood Reporter Esquire's "Top Entertainment Neutrals." Justice Zebrowski is also a member of the BAJI Civil Jury Instructions Committee.

California Court of Appeal, 1995-1999:
Justice Zebrowski authored 48 published opinions. He also joined in (or dissented from) approximately 100 other published opinions, and in total participated in several thousand appellate and writ decisions. He attended appellate judge's training at NYU in 1997 and 1998.

Justice Zebrowski was appointed to the Court of Appeal by Governor Wilson.

Los Angeles Superior Court, 1982-1995:
Justice Zebrowski served in civil assignments for all of his 13 years on the Superior Court. He served for seven years in law and motion and writs and receivers, and six years in civil trial departments, including five years in downtown fast track. He was often designated as judge for all purposes in complex business cases (i.e., the consolidated Executive Life class actions, environmental insurance coverage claims, large unfair competition claims, various other complex real estate and business matters).

While serving on the Superior Court Justice Zebrowski served as a consultant to the BAJI Committee, served on the State Bar Lis Pendens Task Force and drafted the annotated code commentary to the lis pendens law, for many years edited Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group), co-authored California Pre-Judgment Money Remedies (West), served on the Board of Governors of the ABTL and on the executive committees of the LACBA Litigation Section and Intellectual Property and Entertainment Section, taught for many years at Loyola Law School, wrote and lectured widely on civil litigation, electronic discovery and related subjects, attended the National Mass Torts Conference in 1994, received mediation training from the Association of Attorney Mediators, and was otherwise active in bar and educational matters. He attended the California Judicial College in 1983 and 1987, and subsequently taught injunctions at the College. He served on the on the Los Angeles - Leningrad liaison committee in 1990-1992. Justice Zebrowski also served on the Superior Court Executive Committee, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Education Committee, the Law Departments Policy Manual Committee and the Multi-Party Construction Defect Litigation Committee.

Justice Zebrowski was appointed to the Superior Court by Governor Deukmejian.

USA Petroleum Corporation, 1981-1982:
Justice Zebrowski served as Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of former client USA Petroleum Corporation in Santa Monica. His duties covered the spectrum of issues arising in corporate operations, including contracts, UCC, finance and credit, insurance, environmental, real estate, personnel, regulatory proceedings, mergers and acquisitions, securities, international trade, etc. Justice Zebrowski tried cases and administrative hearings for USA Petroleum, and also held a real estate broker's license at this time and conducted real estate transactions.

Private Practice, Los Angeles, 1975-1981:
Justice Zebrowski practiced business litigation with the firms of McCutchen, Black, Verleger & Shea (now Baker & Hostetler) and Schwartz, Alschuler & Grossman (now Alschuler Grossman LLP). Areas involved included insurance, contracts, banking and finance, real estate, entertainment, construction, antitrust, admiralty, high tech, international trade and other business-related areas.

United States Department of the Interior, 1973-1975:

During law school, Justice Zebrowski worked approx. 30 hours per week as a Legislative Analyst for the Department of the Interior. In this capacity, he analyzed proposed legislation, primarily relating to environmental, natural resources and energy issues, prepared legislative reports for Congress, and drafted proposed legislation.

Georgetown University Law Center, 1972-1975:
Justice Zebrowski received his J.D. in 1975 from Georgetown, where he served as an editor of the law review. His student note on the then-recently passed Occupational Safety and Health Act was cited several times by Federal appellate courts and by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

University of Pennsylvania, 1966-1970:
Justice Zebrowski received a B.A. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) in 1970. He majored in an interdisciplinary program divided between the Wharton business school and the College of Arts & Sciences, emphasizing economics, business and international affairs.

Summary of Bar Activities:

Board of Governors, ABTL (3 years); Executive Committee, Litigation Section LACBA (4 years); Executive Committee, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Committee LACBA (3 years); Executive Committee, Prejudgment Remedies Committee, LACBA (5 years); Founding officer of LACBA Inn of Court; reporter for State Bar Lis Pendens Task Force (Committee drafted new lis pendens law; as reporter, drafted code commentary now in annotated code); State Bar ADR Committee subcommittees on education and private judging (one year); Advisor to State Bar Litigation Section (1998-1999); Board of Directors, Coalition for Justice (1998).

Summary of Teaching Activities:

Adjunct Professor, Loyola Law School, Advanced Civil Procedure (1992 to 2000); Lecturer for Pepperdine, Southwestern and Loyola law schools; Rutter Group; Association of Real Estate Lawyers; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; CAALA; numerous sections of LACBA; several sections of State Bar; several Inns of Court; numerous other MCLE providers; California Judge's Association; numerous other bar associations (approx. 210 appearances in 17 years of judicial service); California Judicial College instructor 1994.

Published Opinions Authored:

  1. Hedging Concepts, Inc. v. First Alliance Mortg. Co. (1996) 41 Cal.App.4th 1410 (contracts and finance: construction of trust deed securitization contract, rescission and quantum meruit).
  2. Davis v. City of Pasadena (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 701 (torts: standards for determining dangerous condition of public property pursuant to Govt Code 830).
  3. Milrot v. Stamper Medical Corp. (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 182 (procedure: proper grounds for adding additional defendants to judgment).
  4. Roddenberry v. Roddenberry (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 634 (entertainment and contracts: construction of contract for sharing of profits from "Star Trek;" parole evidence and substantial evidence).
  5. Robertson v. Chen (1996) 44 CaI.App.4th 1290 (settlement: application of CCP §664.6 signature requirement for enforcement of settlements).
  6. University of Southern California v. Superior Court (Comeau) (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 1283 (discovery: discoverability of proceedings of hospital medical staffs or peer review bodies).
  7. Janken v. GM Hughes Electronics (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 55 (employment: whether individual supervisory employees may be sued on claims of discrimination).
  8. Catanese v. Superior Court (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1159 (discovery; applicability of interrogatory "Rule of 35" and "self-containment rule").
  9. General Star Indem. Co. v. Superior Court (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 1586 (insurance: application of SIR endorsement to CGL policy).
  10. People v. Gutierrez (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1894 (criminal: sentencing in Three Strikes case).
  11. Silva v. Block (1996) 49 CalApp.4th 345 (procedure: propriety of class action alleging improper use of police dogs).
  12. Crusader Ins. Co. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 121 (insurance and statutory construction: standards for determining whether statute creates private right to sue; whether statutes regulating surplus line brokers create private right to sue).
  13. Ward v. Superior Court (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 60 (real property: whether notice of violation of homeowner's association is recordable).
  14. Remington Investment Inc. v. Hamedani (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1033 (banking: admissible evidence necessary to prove borrower's liability on line of credit; applicability of D'Oench Duhme doctrine).
  15. Cooper v. Superior Court (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 744 (torts: applicability of CCP §425.13 motion requirement to claim for punitive damages for sexual battery against gynecologist).
  16. Barajas v. Oren Realty and Development Co. (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 209 (mediation: whether attorney who mediates one case is barred from later litigating related case).
  17. Byers v. Cathcart (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 805 (real property and civil procedure: applicability of civil harassment statute to resolution of dispute over easement).
  18. Western Landscape Const. v. Bank of America Nat. Trust and Sav. Ass'n (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 57 (construction: effect of progress payment release forms on right to be paid retention).
  19. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 617 (insurance: permissibility of insurer motion for summary judgment after initial ruling on duty to defend).
  20. People v. Gohdes (1997) 58 CaI.App.4th 1520 (criminal: liability for recurring molestation of a child).
  21. Weddington Productions Inc. v. Flick (1998) 60 Cal .App.4th 783 (mediation and settlements: enforcement of settlement contracts pursuant to CCP §664.6).
  22. First Fidelity Thrift & Loan Ass'n v. Alliance Bank (1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 1433 (real property: priority of encumbrances, encumbrancer's duty to investigate).
  23. Berg v. MTC Electronic Technologies (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 349 (multi-state litigation: forum non conveniens; jurisdictional submission versus forum selection clauses).
  24. Mabie v. Hyatt (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 581 (torts: malicious prosecution, necessity of probable cause for all claims advanced).
  25. Liontos v. Sanitation Districts (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 726 (inverse condemnation: liability for damage caused by public works projects).
  26. Wooden v. Raveling (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1035 (torts: elements of claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress).
  27. Robison v. Six Flags Theme Park Inc. (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 1294 (torts: forseeability of accident causing personal injury, necessity of prior incidents).
  28. Regency Health Services, Inc. v. Superior Court (1998) 64 Cal App .4th 1496 (discovery: duties of guardian ad litem).
  29. In re Kelley L. (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 1279 (dependency: father's right to notice before visitation orders are changed).
  30. FSPP v. City of Los Angeles (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 650 (government contracting: charter requirements for contract formation with city).
  31. CrossTalk Productions, Inc. v. Jacobson (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 631 (business torts: defense of unclean hands, bribery).
  32. People v. Rodriguez (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 157 (criminal and constitutional law: constitutionality of "shooting out of vehicle" special circumstance).
  33. California Rifle and Pistol Assn., Inc. v. City of West Hollywood (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 1302 (constitutional law: preemptive effect of state law on local ordinance).
  34. Obregon v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 424 (discovery: duty to attempt informal resolution, consequences of inadequate effort).
  35. Quan v. Truck Ins. Exchange (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 583 (insurance: effect of negligence allegation on duty to defend).
  36. Cloud v. Northrop Grumman Corp. (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 995 (employment: judicial estoppel, effect of failure to schedule claim in bankruptcy).
  37. Arthur Andersen v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1481 (accounting and insurance: entitlement of insurance commissioner to rely on audit).
  38. Winograd v. American Broadcasting Co. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 624 (settlement and arbitration: interpretation of arbitration/settlement stipulation).
  39. Carlson v. State of California Dept. of Fish and Game (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 1268 (procedure: duty of clerk to file document presented for filing).
  40. Wausau Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Unigard Security Ins. Co. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 1030 (insurance: duty to defend environmental case).
  41. Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 1012 (procedure: proper standard for addition of additional defendants as alter egos).
  42. Waffer Internat. Corp. v. Khorsandi (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 1261 (attachments: defense of election of remedies).
  43. Agricultural Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (Feb 26, 1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 385 (insurance: "reverse bad faith" and fraud suits by insurer against insured).
  44. People v. Elize (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 605 (court's duty to instruct on self defense).
  45. Saret-Cook v. Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley & Jennett (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1211 (settlement and rescission, sex harassment, attorney's fees and damages).
  46. Tokio Marine & Fire Ins. Corp. v. Western Pacific Roofing Corp. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 110 (addition of insurer to judgment in construction case).
  47. Binder v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 832 (wrongful termination and summary judgment).
  48. In re Marriage of Keech (1999) 75 Cal. App.4th 860 (attorney's fees in marital dissolution case).

Published Concurring or Dissenting Opinions; Published Opinions extensively Quoting from Prior Rulings:

  1. Westoil Terminals v. Harbor Ins. Co. (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 634 (expansion of duty to defend to non-insured successor; dissenting).
  2. Sipple v. Foundation for Nat. Progress (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 226 (reach of SLAPP statute; concurring and dissenting).
  3. Stadish v. Superior Court (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1130 (case management orders, protective orders and discovery; concurring).
  4. Reno v. Baird (1998) 18 Cal.4th 640 (individual liability of supervisors on discrimination claims; quoting extensively from Janken v. G M. Hughes Electronics).
  5. Friends of La Vina v. County of Los Angeles (1991) 232 Cal.App.3rd 1446 (EIR requirements; trial court order incorporated as part of dissent).

Other Publications:

Articles in periodicals:

  1. OSHA: Developing Outlines of Liability in Multi-Employer Situations, 62 Georgetown Law Journal 1483 (1974). Student note on application of OSHA regulations on large construction projects. Cited in Anning-Johnson Company v OSHRC, 513 F.2d 1081, 1089, 1091 (7th.Cir. 1975) and Brennan v. OSHRC; 513 F.2d 1032, 1039 (2d. Cir. 1975) and several times in decisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
  2. The Interrogatory Trap, The Advocate (LATLA), October 1983.
  3. The Business Records Subpoena: Misunderstood and Misused, Los Angeles Daily Journal Report, February 1985.
  4. Business Records Subpoena and the Hearsay Rule, Los Angeles Daily Journal Report, June 1986.
  5. The Realities of Law and Motion Practice, Los Angeles Lawyer, October 1985.
  6. Ex Parte Law and Motion, Los Angeles Lawyer, March 1986.
  7. Injunctions Against Civil Harassment, Los Angeles County Bar Prejudgment Remedies Section Newsletter, April 1986.
  8. Attachment Evidence Law, Los Angeles Daily Journal Report, July 1986.
  9. Preparing a Business Records Declaration, Los Angeles Lawyer, February 1987.
  10. Lis Pendens Expungement: A Revisionist View, Los Angeles Lawyer, January 1989.
  11. Common Mistakes in Summary Judgment, ABTL Report, November 1989.
  12. The Summary Adjudication Pyramid, Los Angeles Lawyer, November 1989. (Cited in United Community Church v. Garcin (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 327).
  13. The Summary Adjudication Pyramid (reprint), the Advocate (LATLA magazine), September 1990.
  14. Judge or Jury: The Judge's Perspective, Litigation (ABA), Fall 1994 (reprinted for LACBA trial training course, for New Hampshire judge's training course and in the ABA's The Litigation Manual).
  15. The Manual for Complex Litigation, ABTL Report, September 1995 (reprinted in ABTL Northern California Report, March 1996) (regarding third edition of manual).
  16. Free and Clear (regarding new lis pendens law, co-authored with Barry Jablon), Los Angeles Lawyer, June 1996.
  17. Local Rules: What Goes Around, Comes Around, Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 9, 1998.
  18. Posting Unpublished Opinions on the Internet, Closing Argument, Los Angeles Lawyer, June 1998.
  19. Find File, Cyber Esq., Winter 1998-99 (trends in electronic discovery law).
  20. Fat Chance, Cyber Esq., Spring 1999 (a primer on the FAT Filing system used in OS and Windows, importance to electronic discovery)
  21. E-Mail and Employment Litigation, Cyber, Esq., Summer 1999 (evidentiary issues raised by e-mail).
  22. Weight of Evidence, Cyber, Esq., Fall 1999 (e-mail discovery in mass tort).

Contributions to Treatises:

  1. Contributing Editor for Weil & Brown, California Civil Procedure Before Trial (Rutter Group), 1985 to 2000.
  2. Co-author, California Pre-Judgment Money Remedies (West Group, 1998).
  3. Consultant for Civil Procedure Before Trial (CEB).
  4. Consultant for Civil Trials and Evidence (The Rutter Group).
  5. Consultant for Bancroft-Whitney's Business Litigation series, Volume 3 (Contracts) and Volume 4 (Uniform Commercial Code and Financial Institutions).
  6. Consultant for Younger, California Motions (West Group 1998).
  7. Consultant for CEB Action Guide, Making and Opposing a Summary Judgment Motion (Spring 1998).

Seminar Materials and Miscellaneous:

  1. Award of Attorney's Fees and Pre-Judgment and Post-Judgment Interests, 1980 ABTL seminar materials, Chapters 8 and 9.
  2. Five Steps to Settling the Hard-to-Settle Case, 1991 SCDC settlement seminar.
  3. Tips on a Successful Appeal: An Interview with Justice John Zebrowski, ABTL Report, September 1996.
  4. Los Angeles Superior Court Multi-Party Construction Defect Litigation Manual (founder and co-chair of committee that authored manual).
  5. Code commentary to lis pendens law published in annotated codes, Code of Civil Procedure §405 et seq. (Written as reporter to lis pendens task force.)
  6. Electronic Discovery, 1998 American Lawyer Legal Tech Conference, Los Angeles (emerging law governing discovery of computerized data).

ADR proceedings are confidential, but general descriptions of cases Justice Zebrowski has handled in specific substantive areas may be available upon inquiry.

Back to Top

This page was last modified in June 2007

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the contents of this web site and any other statements contained herein are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be represented as legal advice in any way.


Web Site Development by Program This! Web Solutions