Christine Allen
Mediator
“Authentic, disarming, and from the heart”
Experience
Christine Allen has been successfully mediating cases since 2004. She has handled over 4000 cases, settling the vast majority of them. Christine was an independent mediator for six years, and then joined the panel at Judicate West in 2011.
Christine practiced personal injury defense for 18 years, so she has a good understanding of how insurance companies operate, and understands the pressures defense attorneys and claims representatives face. Although she was a defense attorney, some of her biggest fans are plaintiff attorneys. This is due to the fact that she is a very compassionate, empathetic listener. Many times plaintiffs hug her on the way out of the mediation because she truly listened to them, and treated them with kindness and respect.
Christine mediates all types of personal injury cases, including automobile, trip/slip and fall, dog bite, and premises liability. She has also successfully mediated other types of disputes, including employment, breach of contact, civil rights violation, sexual battery, sexual molestation, insurance subrogation, and landlord/tenant.
Mediation Style
Christine’s style has been described as “authentic, disarming and from the heart. “ She is a compassionate listener, and makes sure that everyone feels heard. She knows how very important this is to the parties. She points out the downsides of each party’s case, and litigation in general, in a way that is palatable and non-threatening.
Christine comes to the mediation well prepared. She gets right to work. Christine is adept at the use of humor as a tool in mediation. She is well aware that litigation is stressful for everyone involved, and she tries to make the mediation a pleasant experience.
Rates
$780.00 per hour.
Cancellation policy: If the case is cancelled or continued within 14 days of the scheduled hearing date and Christine is able to fill the time with another mediation, a full refund will be given. If Christine is not able to fill the time with another mediation, no refund will be given.
Biography/Education
Christine was raised in Waterloo, Iowa. She attended Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, earning a B.A. with a major in Political Science, and a minor in Spanish. She spent one year of college in Mexico City with a Notre Dame foreign studies program. She moved to California after graduating in 1981. Thereafter, she began law school at Southwestern University in Los Angeles. She later switched to Western State University after moving from Los Angeles to Orange County. She graduated near the top of her class. She attended Pepperdine University Strauss Institute for mediation training in 2004.
She is married, has a daughter and son, and is thrilled to be called “Grandma” by two adorable grandsons. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking at the beach, sunsets, dancing, yoga, and golf. She also enjoys watching football, basketball, golf and tennis.