Thomas S. Slovak

Mr. Slovak began his career emphasizing labor relations for management representing a wide variety of public and private entities in labor contract negotiations, disputes, and administrative hearings including a substantial practice before the Agricultural Labor Relations Board. By the 1980s his trial practice began to emphasize commercial, real estate transaction, fraud and fiduciary disputes, with some substantial emphasis in probate and trust litigation. In the last decade, Mr. Slovak has returned to an emphasis in employment litigation acting as plaintiffs’ lead trial counsel on wage and hour class actions, as well as a wide variety of employment discrimination cases based on race, religion, and sex. His practice is diverse to include representing companies and individuals on land use matters, partnership disputes, shareholder derivative suits, fiduciary duty disputes of all types, will and trust contests, construction defect litigation including subsidence claims, anti-trust claims, unfair business practice, unfair competition, and trade infringement claims to name just a few.

He recently tried a dispute defending the seller of commercial property against claims of fraud and failures to disclose defects in what is believed to be one of the longest civil jury trials in Riverside County history, lasting over four months with a successful result for the defense with the jury just out four hours to reach its verdict. Against the County of San Bernardino, in 2002, he obtained a $2.3 million judgment for a woman wrongfully terminated due to a physical disability.

Mr. Slovak has tried to verdict numerous commercial and labor arbitration matters, as well as participating in well over 100 sophisticated mediations as counsel and occasionally acting as a private mediator upon request. Throughout his career Mr. Slovak has volunteered his time to serve on the Riverside Superior Court voluntary panel of mediators. He presently resides in Rancho Mirage, California with his wife and youngest son, four other children now having entered or completed their college educations. His hobbies include traveling, photography, and reading. Golf does not fit into his schedule given his busy trial practice.

Born El Centro, California, December 30, 1948; admitted to bar, 1974, California and U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Southern District of California and Central District of California. Education: California State Polytechnic College (Pomona) (B.A., with honors, 1971); University of Southern California (J.D., 1974). From 1974 through 1993, an associate and then partner (1981) with Best Best & Krieger ("BB&K") in the Palm Springs office. Headed litigation department of BB&K that at one point grew to 17 lawyers in the 35-person Desert branch of that Firm. Member: Desert Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1981-1985; President, 1986-1987; Chairman, Civil Courts/Litigation Section 1983-1985; Fee Arbitration Panel, 1983 - present ), Riverside County (Member, Superior Court Settlement Panel, 1981 - present) and American Bar Association; State Bar of California; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Concentration: Labor and Employment Litigation; Class Actions; Business Law; Fraud; Business Tort; Antitrust; Real Estate; Construction Defect Litigation; Estate, and Trust Conservatorship Litigation. Author: "There is More to Arbitration Than Just Arbitrating," California Lawyer, May 2000. Presenter: "Superior Deposition Strategies in California Civil Trial Practice," National Business Institute, November 8, 2002, San Bernardino, California.