Panel Members

CURRENT PANEL MEMBERS WITH HIGHLIGHTED BIOS:

Upon filing a dispute with CoMA, the Case Administrator reviews the subject matter and provides a choice of 3 qualified facilitators. A CV / Resume of the proposed individuals are presented to the parties for indication of a first and second choice. The overlapping named Dispute Resolution Professional is assigned to the case. Parties may also unanimously agree on a specific facilitator and indicate this choice upon filing with the forum.

James Eichberg, CPA

20+ years experience with complex arbitrations for the American Arbitration Association, NASD & NYSE n/k/a FINRA. Serving as Chairperson or sole arbitrator in over 90% of the 140 cases that have gone to hearing during this time, while being appointed to well over 100 cases which did not go to a full hearing. Disputes that were heard include: financial, employment, business and partnership disillusionments, construction, securities, notes, investment suitability, and real estate. Mediating disputes have involved investments and securities, partnership and corporate disillusionments, and domestic relations issues. Guest lecturer on mediation and arbitration. Past Adjunct Professor at University of Denver teaching Alternative Dispute Resolution.

John F. Sass, JD

Arbitrator, Mediator, and Fact-Finder since 1980. Former Administrative Law Judge; State Agricultural Employment Relations Board; Former Hearing Officer for the Phoenix Employment Relations Board and Maricopa County Merit System Commission
Colorado: Hearing Officer for local governments -Special Master for the US District Court for District of Colorado. Mediator for Denver District Court.

Charles Kuechenmeister, JD

Janet Koin Dampeer, LCSW

20+ years business management & commercial real estate development; Ombudsman Long Term Care & Patient Advocate. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist for families & individuals; B.A. in Business & Accounting, MSW

Hazel Hanley, JD

Attorney at Law; Labor & employment since 1984, including representation of the Office of General Counsel, Federal Labor Relations Authority, EEOC litigation. Arbitrator for the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service. Public Arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers.

Former Administrative Law Judge and trial counsel for the State of California Department of Transportation. Extensive litigation and mediation experience in the areas of complex Personal Injury and Construction Contract disputes. Also handled cases involving state and federal special education law as a judge and mediator. Negotiated approval of six "Lemon Law" vehicle warranty arbitration programs for the Department of Consumer Affairs.

B.S. and SPHR in Human Resource Management. Former Stock Broker & Insurance Agent. NASD Arbitrator. Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from University of Denver. Graduate studies in Conflict Transformation at Eastern Mennonite University. Mediator with a focus on domestic and workplace disputes. Completed Mediation Internship with the Denver Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2002.

30+ yrs in clinical & administrative healthcare. Bureau of Land Management & United States Postal Service external mediator for EEO/Disability & Workplace disputes. Facilitates family communication/mediation on Trans-generational (elder), Long Term Care & End of Life Decisions. Published author of numerous articles on Legal Nursing Concerns.

Lawrence B. Leff, JD,MSW

Family Law, Employment Law, and Construction Litigation practitioner since 1974; Home Owner Association practitioner since 1982. Currently a contract Hearing Officer for the Denver Civil Service Commission; and a panel member for the Denver Court Appointed Mediation Program sponsored by the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.

Experienced Dispute Resolution Specialist for Family, Workplace/ADA, Business & Community Organizations. Co-founder / former Executive Director of New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution. Trained State & Federal Departments of Corrections in Conflict Resolution. Adjunct instructor in Dispute Resolution studies at Regis University.

BS & MS in Geology with specialty in Hydrology. Geologic consultant in groundwater & environment since 1970. Highlights include $13 million dollar groundwater development project in Africa and major groundwater development project in Puerto Rico for large petro-chemical companies. Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from University of Denver.

Jeffrey C. Pond, JD

Practice since 1968 focused on complex civil litigation in State & Federal Courts and advocacy in arbitration, with focus on the areas described above; member of AAA Commercial Arbitration Panel since 1986, serving as a neutral arbitrator in numerous proceedings involving securities fraud, partnership and LLC obligations, software disputes, telecommunications, advertising, sales of business and other contract based disputes; Denver Business Journal 2003, Best of the Bar-Telecommunications; Adjunct Faculty-University of Colorado School of Law 2004, teaching Business Transactions.

Rita L. Hyland
CPCU, LPCS, CPIW

Insurance liability claims specialist with particular expertise in bodily injuries compouded by complex legal and coverage issues. Broad, up-to-date technical knowledge gained through extensive experience and refined through continuing professional education. Skilled investigator and persuasive negotiator who acheived positive outcomes under challenging and contentious conditions.

More than 25 years of experience as an arbitrator for AAA, US Anti-Doping Agency (administered by AAA) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Served as sole arbitrator, panel member & panel chair for 42 matters in the last 10 years, handling cases dealing with the following types of issues: business valuation; cable and satellite television; partnership dissolutions & terminations; tax malpractice; contracts; dope testing (Olympic movement); education; health care; insurance; investment & securities; patent infringement; real estate; oil & gas, and telecommunications.

Executive Director and Case Administrator for CoMA. Responsible for providing the vision and general management, including marketing & building the panel of mediators & arbitrators.

Legal Counsel for CoMA; Provides ongoing legal guidance in case management. Compiled CoMA’s Rules of Procedure. Securities dispute resolution practitioner and family law practitioner. Former examiner for the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).

Substantial contributions help to guide CoMA’s marketing, training, and procedures. Jim has been pivotal in the formation and review of CoMA’s Rules of Procedure, as well as providing oversight and direction for the forum.