William J. Caplan has been a full-time neutral since 2001 and has successfully handled over 1500 civil matters. During his 22 years as a trial lawyer, he specialized primarily in real estate, business, and construction litigation matters. Bill received formal mediation training from Harvard Law School and Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute. His enthusiasm for private dispute resolution has led him to author numerous articles. He served as an adjunct professor at the Chapman University School of Law, teaching mediation.
Known for having a very high settlement rate, Bill comes to each mediation thoroughly prepared and determined to work with the parties no matter how long it takes. One attorney commented, “He has excellent bedside manner, pushes when people need to be pushed, pulls when they need to be pulled, and uses his own experience in business litigation to try and make the pie bigger so people can get a resolution done.” Another prominent attorney noted that “he demonstrated a great grasp of the facts right off the bat, and because of his background, Bill understands other motivations at play in disputes, like preserving a relationship with a customer or keeping the peace between partners.”
Mr. Caplan's background includes experience in a wide variety of business and commercial areas of law.
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In his spare time, Bill is involved with his church, enjoys spending time with his family, backpacking, playing basketball, coaching sports and attending sporting events.
"Bill Caplan was awesome. He really dug in and got the parties together and successfully settled our case! Great job Bill! "
- Partner at a Southern California Firm and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Lawyer
"We appreciated meeting you, and also respect all of the comments you made throughout the course of the mediation. Our clients understood the process, and without exception respected your efforts and know that you were trying to fashion a workable solution as a neutral for both sides."
- Attorney on a Real Property Buy/Sell Dispute
"I just wanted to thank [him] again for [his] exceptional effort at the day long mediation. I was really impressed by [his] skills and unrelenting dedication to achieving a settlement for these to family members who were extremely emotional about past events. A tip of my hat to [him] for a job well done!! "
- Plaintiff attorney on a real property breach of contract dispute
"He demonstrated a great grasp of the facts right off the bat, and because of his background Bill understands other motivations at play in disputes, like preserving a relationship with a customer or keeping peace between partners."
- Attorney on a Business Dispute
"Frankly, he was one of the best mediators with whom I have had a mediation. "
- Attorney on a Real Property Fraud/Misrepresentation case
"Mr. Caplan was very efficient and effective, not only in analyzing the factual and legal issues but in assessing the parties' needs and concerns. Was clearly prepared in advance of the mediation session, and worked hard during it to bridge the gap between the parties. Would not hesitate to utilize his services in another contract/ real estate matter. "
- Attorney on a Real Property Transaction case
"“[He] did the critical job of articulating the important issues and expressing points favoring a settlement in a case that was fraught with emotion. I wholeheartedly believe that without [his] participation, the parties would not have had the ability to reach a settlement, and he stayed so late to get the settlement finalized. A positive experience and outcome for everyone."
- Attorney on a Real Property Breach of Contract Matter
"Mr. Caplan is the best mediator I have worked with. He's settled all 3 cases. 100% success rate. His preparation sets him apart."
- Attorney on a Business/Contractual case
$2,000,000 dispute between manufacturer and insurer for business interruption against insurer that denied coverage under policy arising out of business shut down based on delivery of contaminated product by manufacturer’s sole supplier.
$1,000,000 insurance bad faith lawsuit over insurer’s refusal to pay on fire insurance policy.
$2,000,000 breach of fiduciary duty disputes between investors in real estate limited partnerships against shopping center syndicator based on claims of non-disclosure of material facts regarding failed shopping center investments.
$12,500,000 lease dispute between investment trust and international conglomerate.
$7,500,000 dispute for specific performance and damages involving a 20-acre parcel in San Bernardino, California.
$5,000,000 action for specific performance and damages regarding seller’s alleged breach of contract to sell parcel of property to national discount warehouse retailer.
Dispute between owner and lessee regarding rights in radio transmission tower.
Dispute between investors in a real estate partnership against a national title insurance company/escrow company based on claims that escrow improperly distributed proceeds of sale of condominiums to managing partners contrary to the vesting instructions given to escrow.
Reciprocal easement dispute between an Orange County real estate developer and a national hardware big box chain regarding obligations under a development agreement.
Dispute over valuation methodology (inclusion or exclusion of 20 years of infra-structure built by ground lessee) for large parcel in Riverside County.
Dispute between national restaurant tenant and regional shopping center owner regarding covenant precluding shopping center owner’s construction in parking area and restrictive covenant against competing uses.
Dispute between landlord/owner of retail parcel against national chain lessee for specific performance of a build to suit lease.
$3,000,000 dispute between managing member and minority member for managing member’s diversion of “partnership opportunities” in out of state shopping centers.
Commission disputes between commercial broker and national chain retailers (three separate cases).
$12,000,000 lawsuit between international real estate developers regarding alleged interference with contract involving prime Newport Beach condominium development project.
$500,000 damages claim for fraud involving failure to include indispensable party to an apparently executed purchase and sale agreement for residential property. Lease dispute involving claims of Lease termination for code violations and constructive eviction regarding business premises.
$3,000,000 personal injury trip and fall case against public entities where trip caused diabetic middle-aged man to lose his left leg.
$1,000,000 construction dispute between public entity and contractor re construction of recreational fields and stadium including claims of “found conditions”, extra work claims, inadequate construction in variance with the approved plans and specifications and cross-claims for changes of the work during construction and vague and inadequate coordination by the public entity’s supervisorial representative.
$700,000 construction disbursement dispute on major bonded construction projects.
$500,000 lawsuit regarding claimed non-performance of contract to grade, pave and provide curbs for a residential development.
$450,000 construction dispute regarding owner’s failure to execute change orders and pay for extra work under bridge construction contact.
$500,000 construction defect lawsuit regarding owner-builder’s failure to construct custom home in conformity with builder’s standard of care.
$1,000,000 dispute for non-disclosed defects in residential property, including nature and extent of poorly compacted fill and resultant damage.
$50,000,000 dispute between City and 73 sets of homeowners, insurers and other intervenors in landslide/subsidence action regarding development of Orange County development tract homes.
$10,000,000 dispute between 40 sets of homeowners, and developer, lenders, contractor and subcontractors based on construction defects in a housing tract built in California.
$9,600,000 breach of fiduciary duty dispute between minority member and managing member of LLC regarding managing member’s sale of the LLC property.
$100,000,000 dispute between Internet e-mail provider and Internet portal operator for breach of contract.
Noise dispute involving tenant of adjoining HOA properties.
$2 million rental dispute regarding past due rent and need for extension of lease for business operations of tenant.
Injunction disputes (2) involving landlord’s efforts to restrain national chain jewelry store/national fast food tenant from discontinuing operations in violation of continuous operations lease provision.
Dispute between landlord and tenant/manufacturer of industrial building based on non-payment of rent and failure to dispose of hazardous materials.
Dispute between shopping center owner and national lender regarding the reasonableness of lender’s withholding of consent to a proposed amendment to a ground lease, based on interpretation of a non-disturbance, subordination and attornment agreement.
Several disputes between landlords and tenants regarding the accuracy of tenant’s reporting of gross sales for purposes of percentage rent calculations.
Dispute between landlord and tenant for termination of long-term car wash lease based on leaks in gasoline storage tanks, claimed inadequate remediation efforts and violations of law.
$2,000,000 dispute between office building owner and lessee/lender regarding obligation to replace dilapidated capital improvements.
Dispute between ground lessor and ground lessee regarding appraisal methodology, whether shopping center should be appraised as a whole or as several individual odd-shaped parcels.
Several disputes between parties to reciprocal easement agreements regarding rights to build or make other changes within common areas of shopping centers.
Dispute involving shopping center developer against commercial business operator and recovery of restitution for value of destruction of business.
$5,000,000 wrongful death/auto lawsuit between plaintiff and civil engineering defendant accused of negligent design of drainage system for roadway.
Wrongful death claim arising out of police shooting.
601 S. Figueroa
Ste 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 213.223.1113
Fax : 213.223.1114
980 9th Street
Suite 2200
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916.394.8490
Fax : 916.394.8495
402 W. Broadway
Ste 2400
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619.814.1966
Fax : 619.814.1967
100 Pine Street
Ste 1950
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.266.1242
Fax : 415.266.1243
1851 East First Street
Ste 1600
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714.834.1340
Fax : 714.834.1344
11601 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 2040
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310.442.2100
Fax : 310.442.2125
2023.5.1.12rp
