Mediator/Arbitrator                                                                 

Attorney Joseph J. Bongiovi III is BDR's principal.  He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and has been a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, since 1970.  Mr. Bongiovi graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.  He then received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law having earned honors in trial advocacy while in attendance.  He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Nevada and before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Bongiovi carries an A/V rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.  In April 2006, Mr. Bongiovi was recognized as one of the "500 Leading Judges in America" by Lawdragon magazine following that publication's national survey of judges and lawyers.  In 2008, Mr. Bongiovi became a Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators.

Having represented insurers, insureds and self-insured entities while in litigation practice, Mr. Bongiovi limited his practice to mediation and arbitration in 1996 when he established Bongiovi Dispute Resolutions.  He then became the first full-time mediator based in southern Nevada.  The practice is exclusively an ADR firm.  No traditional representation of clients occurs.  Since forming BDR, Mr. Bongiovi has performed well over 2000 mediations and arbitrations in disputes involving anywhere from hundreds to millions of dollars.  He handles disputes in pre-litigation, litigation and appellate stages.  Mr. Bongiovi's settlement rate in mediation remains quite high,* and he is privileged to enjoy an exemplary reputation for professionalism and success in ADR.

Mr. Bongiovi has lectured in continuing education programs for the Nevada State Bar and other sponsors.  He is a member of several professional organizations. 

Education:

• University of San Diego Law School, J.D. (1986): Int'l Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas, B.A. Psychology (1983): Fleischmann Scholar

Legal Career:

• Bongiovi Dispute Resolutions (1996-present):  Practice limited to ADR of all matters except domestic and construction defect cases.  Matters include personal injury/wrongful death, insurance coverage/bad faith, product liability, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, intellectual property, contract, commercial and employment disputes.  A/V rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Listed: Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators. 
• Bongiovi & Silvestri, Chtd. (1993-1996):  Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, construction defect, contract and commercial disputes.
• Joseph J. Bongiovi III, Chtd. (1990-1993):  Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, construction defect, contract and commercial disputes.  Reported Decision:   Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Young, 832 P.2d 376 (Nev. 1992).
• Beckley, Singleton, DeLanoy, Jemison & List (1986-1990):  Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation,  premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, contract and commercial disputes.

ADR Experience:

• Full-time practice devoted exclusively to ADR since 1996 with a history of over 2000 matters handled 
• 40 hour nationally sponsored mediation training program
• Accepted invitation to participate in Nevada Supreme Court Appellate Mediation Training Program
• Ongoing continuing education as time allows, including programs in ADR, negotiation and insurance coverage

Lecturer/Articles:

• Medical Malpractice Issues (to American Ass'n for Thoracic Surgery, 2004 annual meeting/plenary session)
• Insurance Coverage (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)
• Auto Insurance Coverage and Claims (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)
• Settling Insurance Claims (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)
• Defending Against the Soft Tissue Claim (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)
• ADR in Bad Faith Cases (to Nevada Bar and claims professionals)
• Settlement Conference/Mediation Techniques (to Nevada bench)
• General Principles of Mediation (to Mediators of Southern Nevada)
• "Avoiding Pitfalls in ADR" Communique (August & September 2006) 
• Settlement Conference and Mediation: Tactics and Preparation (to Nevada bar)

Affiliations:

• Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators
• Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR, formerly SPIDR)
• American Arbitration Association
• ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
• State Bar of Nevada Section of Dispute Resolution
• Clark County Bar Association
• Mediators of Southern Nevada
• Resolute Systems

*Mediators are not to quote statistical settlement data in their advertising. Revised Standards of Conduct for Mediators, Standard VII, Comment 1, Joint (ABA/AAA/ACR) Committee Draft (January 2004).