Meyers Nave Now Offers Mediation Services

Mediation allows cities and public agencies to create consensus solutions to the disagreements that are a common outcome of legislative actions. The mediation process is designed to help stakeholders resolve disagreements before those disagreements turn into real conflicts. It promotes win-win solutions and can actually strengthen the working relationships of the parties, rather than becoming a “stake in the ground” that symbolizes a permanent shift from collaboration to hostility.

Mediation is also an economical alternative to litigation in many of the claims and lawsuits filed against cities and public entities.

For these reasons, Meyers Nave is excited to announce the expansion of its public law practice to include mediation services. Richard R. Rudnansky, a principal with the firm, has over 30 years of experience in litigation and municipal law and has served as a court settlement panelist for almost 20 years. He has worked with public agency officials, private and public parties, and community stakeholders toward facilitating communication, consensus and problem solving. He has been litigation counsel, special counsel, city attorney and general counsel to municipalities and agencies throughout Northern and Central California. In 2000, Mr. Rudnansky merged his successful Santa Rosa litigation and municipal law practice with Meyers Nave.

Mr. Rudnansky has added to his hands-on experience with comprehensive mediation training with the Center for Mediation in Law and the American Institute of Mediation. He is a member of the Arbitration and Mediation Center and is a court-approved mediator. He has been named Northern California Super Lawyer by San Francisco Magazine. He is past president of the Redwood Empire Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Bar Association and Section Representative of the public law section of the Sonoma County Bar Association.

Mr. Rudnansky’s areas of focus include matters and cases pertaining to municipal/government disputes, land use, civil rights (e.g., police procedures and use of force, due process and equal protection), inverse condemnation, environmental law, tort defense, and insurance law and coverage.

"Mediation can resolve disputes and conflict in a way that reduces or eliminates the time, expense, emotional drain and uncertainty of outcome that accompany litigation. Although the parties may not agree, the goal is for them to understand each other’s perspectives and move forward in a respectful and dignified manner. With the assistance of a skilled mediator, parties can often reach a fair and mutually beneficial resolution."