Debra Bogaards

Background

About Debra Bogaards

Ms. Bogaards mediates all types of disputes effectively, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death due to an automobile/bicycle/motorcycle/scooter accident as well as elder neglect and abuse, employment, landlord tenant, premises liability, toxic tort, and sexual abuse (by doctors, clergy, high school coaches, teenage residential homes ). Ms. Bogaards has also joined the faculty at UC Law SF, formerly known as U.C. Hastings College of the Law, teaching one class each semester, Negotiation and Settlement. Participants in her mediations have remarked at Ms. Bogaards' uncanny ability to resolve complex matters, involving multiple defendants where an allocation is necessary, or dealing with difficult parties or attorneys, polarizing values of a case, emotional matters due to sexual abuse, and others. The moniker "rockstar" was bestowed by both sides on a recent catastrophic injury case involving a train and a limo. Ms. Bogaards holds her undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley in Business Administration, with a major in accounting. Her skill with numbers is useful when analyzing economist reports, income loss, loss of future earning capacity, life plan, etc. She also organizes the materials prepared by counsel into timelines, chronologies and charts which help in discussing the strengths and weaknesses of a case. Having managed and owned two insurance defense firms in SF for nearly 25 years, Ms. Bogaards is very familiar with coverage and the claims process. She understands the need for documentation and evidence for the claims rep. Ms. Bogaards has been known to get documents that the defense needs from plaintiffs so the carrier can request more settlement authority. She communicates in a direct manner, which both claims reps and managers appreciate. In her pragmatic and detailed manner, Ms. Bogaards can cut through the proverbial b.s. and get to the bottomline. Plaintiffs trust Ms. Bogaards, as she is a skilled trial attorney with an excellent reputation as well as a down to earth wife, mother and grandmother. She is empathetic and a good listener. However, she can also communicate effectively the weaknesses of the case and risks involved when necessary. Plaintiffs like Ms. Bogaards because she is relatable and caring, but can get them the highest settlement possible. Counsel like to use Ms. Bogaards as a mediator, as she treats counsel with respect and gets the job done. With her unique background on both sides-plaintiff and defense-and trial experience, Ms. Bogaards can see the way to settlement for your case.