JEFFREY L. CRAFTS

Curriculum Vitae

Jeff spent 40 years in high intensity litigation practices with a broad foundation in cases involving real estate and title litigation, commercial actions, catastrophic personal injury, and bad faith issues.  As a trial lawyer and a member of ABOTA, Jeff litigated in cases throughout California appearing in court houses ranging from San Francisco, Sacramento and El Dorado Counties all the way South to San Diego with home bases in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.  Jeff started his practicing career with a long established defense firm ultimately rising to the position of Managing Partner, a position he held for 15 years.  However, he later established his own independent Firm with a boutique practice in real estate and title litigation and plaintiff personal injury.  Jeff has litigated cases ranging from easement disputes between a 77 lot development and a major Norther California landowner, to title disputes in multi-million dollar properties with foreign landowners, to cases involving catastrophic brain injury, wrongful death and bad faith matters involving multi-million dollars in potential exposure.  Though practicing on the defense side for over 30 years, later in his career, Jeff handled several plaintiff cases including settling a catastrophic personal injury case with 3 simultaneous actions in both State and Federal Court for over $1.8 million dollars on behalf of a plaintiff client. In addition, over the years Jeff has also handled major Construction Defect, and Employment law matters. In his decades of practice, he has been on both sides of cases experiencing the demands and client interaction from each and every angle. 

Now 7 years into an exclusive Mediation Practice, Jeff has mediated cases bringing his years of experience and the most up to date mediation training to help achieve durable resolutions in litigated matters.

Jeff has lectured on multiple topics ranging from Brain Injury Litigation, to Claims Regulations, Claims Practices and, most recently, Mediation Techniques.  He has also been a CEB lecturer on discovery practices and evidence.                 

Jeff also served 7 years on the Board of the Orange Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Orange, CA. the last 3 years of that term serving as a member of that Foundation’s Executive Committee.  Has represented on a pro bono basis, members of La Cursillo Movement and various programs for kids requiring special education.  He has volunteered his time through the LACBA sitting as a mediator in various Superior Courts in Los Angeles County.

Admitted in Federal Districts throughout California

Education and Certifications:

• Loyola University of Los Angeles (B.A., 1974, cum laude);
• Loyola University of Los Angeles (J.D., 1977)
• Strauss Institute Advanced Mediation Skills
• Orange County Human Relations Mediation Certification

Member of:

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)- Orange County, CA chapter. American Bar Association.