Hon. Patricia Collins
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
As a neutral with ADR Services, Inc. since May 2008, Judge Collins
brings her experience from twenty years on the bench, including sixteen
years on the Superior Court. Judge Collins presided over the Law and
Motion Department in the West District, Long Cause Civil in Central
Civil West and an Independent Civil Calendar in Santa Monica. She has
settled scores of cases involving insurance coverage, personal injury,
medical malpractice, entertainment law, partnership dissolutions, mold
infestation, contract and commercial lease disputes, wrongful
termination, and homeowner association disputes. She has also presided
over sophisticated business disputes between national and multinational
organizations, matters involving high-profile parties, as well as
complex asbestos litigation. Judge Collins’ judicial career was preceded
by extensive federal court trial experience with the United States
Attorney’s Office, including complex bank and real estate fraud matters.
Judge Collins also has litigated in private practice where she primarily
handled business and insurance matters.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
1992 – 2008 Superior Court Judge, Los Angeles, California
Assignments in long cause civil (Central Civil West), civil independent
calendar (Central Civil and West District), Law & Motion Department
(West District), and felony trials and long cause/high security criminal
trials (Criminal Courts Building). Appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson and
re-elected. Retired May 5, 2008.
1988 – 1992 Municipal Court Judge, Los Angeles, Municipal Court
Also served as Supervising Judge of the Metropolitan Court. Assignments
in criminal misdemeanor trials (Metropolitan and West Los Angeles) and
felony preliminary hearings (Criminal Courts Building). Appointed by
Governor Deukmejian and re-elected.
1994 (Oct.-Dec.) Judge pro tem, Court of Appeal
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1982 – 1988 Assistant US Attorney, Central District of California,
Criminal Division
1987 – 1988 Chief, Major Crimes Unit
Supervising prosecution of violent federal offenses, including murder,
rape, and arson
1983 – 1987 Major Frauds Unit
Prosecuting primarily complex business, banking and real estate related
federal criminal violations
1979 – 1982 Adams Duque & Hazeltine, Associate
Civil litigation practice, primarily business, antitrust and insurance
defense
1977 – 1979 Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Washington D.C., Law Clerk (part
time)
EDUCATION
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER, JD cum laude (1979)
STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NY AT BUFFALO, BA summa cum laude (1975)
CANISIUS COLLEGE, Buffalo, NY (1972)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Current: Los Angeles County Bar Association; Women Lawyers of Los
Angeles; California Judges Association; National Women Judges
Association; Southern California Business Litigation Inn of Court;
Association of Business Trial Lawyers; American Bar Association
Past: Irish American Bar Association; Bureau of National Affairs, Civil
Trial Manual Advisory Board; Municipal Court Judges Association.
Admitted to practice: California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal;
Central, Southern & Northern Districts of California
This page was last modified in June 2010
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