The Honorable Richard W. Knepper (Ret.) Mediator • Arbitrator
	Professional Biography The Honorable Richard W. Knepper (Ret.) Retired Judge Richard Knepper is a native of Toledo, Ohio where in 1969 he graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.  He attended the University of Toledo College of Law where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1973 and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award. Once out of law school, Judge Knepper moved into the private practice of law and served as an Assistant Law Director for the City of Toledo, and later became the Program Director for the United Auto Workers' Legal Services Plan.  In 1983, he was elected to be a Judge in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas.  In his 14 years at common pleas court, Judge Knepper concluded approximately 7,000 criminal felony cases and 10,500 civil cases.  These cases included personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, contracts, injunctive relief and various forms of complex litigation, such as, class actions, declaratory judgments, shareholder derivative suits and labor disputes. In addition to his regular judicial duties, from 1984 until 1992, Judge Knepper was responsible for the administration of all medical malpractice cases up to and including arbitration.  As a trial judge, he negotiated, settled and tried hundreds of cases.  Judge Knepper continued to serve in the common pleas court until 1996 and was then appointed to the Sixth District Court of Appeals in 1997.  While at the appellate court, Judge Knepper sat on approximately 2,400 panels and wrote approximately 800 appellate opinions.  He served on the appellate court through January of 2005, when he retired from the bench to form Richard Knepper & Associates, Ltd. to provide mediation and arbitration services and training for lawyers and to assist lawyers in preparing clients for mediation. Mediation Training 1999 National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno – completed 40 hour Civil Mediation course. 2000 American Academy of ADR Attorneys, Des Moines, Iowa – received Board Certification as a Mediator. 2001 American Academy of ADR Attorneys, Des Moines, Iowa – completed 24 hour course in Transformative Mediation. 2002 Capital University Law School, Center for Dispute Resolution – completed "Becoming a More Effective Mediator" and "Handling Workplace Conflicts" training courses. 2003 Harvard Law School – completed 40 hour Advanced Mediation Training course.  Ohio Supreme Court, Dispute Resolution Section – completed "Advanced Mediation Training" course. 2004 Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio – completed 40 hours of Divorce Mediation Training which qualified him, pursuant to Ohio Supreme Court Rule 81, to mediate disputes regarding the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, including the care of and visitation with minor children. Peacemaker Ministries – completed the "Reconciler Practicum" and was accepted into training as a Certified Christian Conciliator (this program uses biblical principles for conflict counseling, mediation and arbitration). Mediation Experience Judge Knepper has functioned as a designated mediator for approximately 350 cases.  These cases were mediated at all levels, including appellate, pre-trial and pre-suit.  The subject matters included medical malpractice claims, banking claims, foreclosures, personal injury, construction claims, probate, domestic relations, workers' compensation, and appropriations.  Judge Knepper experienced at the appellate level a 75% settlement rate and at the pre-trial/pre-suit level, a 95% settlement rate. (See reference letters written by attorneys who have mediated cases with Judge Knepper.)