Background

With over 30 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Steve Dadaian has been involved in complex litigation in a variety of areas involving governmental entities, product liability, eminent domain, inverse condemnation, medical malpractice, contract disputes, employment law and catastrophic injuries. He was also the lead negotiator in hundreds of cases as the Assistant Chief Counsel for the State of California Department of Transportation, developing valuable skills in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of cases, evaluating them and achieving resolutions in the vast majority of disputes.

Extensive Litigation and Mediation Experience

Steve began his career as a successful plaintiff trial attorney in Pasadena, where for nearly a decade he represented consumers in product liability, medical malpractice, common carrier and premises liability cases. He later served for ten years as a Deputy Attorney with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where he tried high-exposure cases involving dangerous highway conditions, employment disputes, and eminent domain/inverse condemnation matters.

Steve’s government practice included significant experience with governmental liability cases, such as improper design, failure to maintain and related immunities. Steve further developed expertise in public works contract disputes, construction claims, and employment law (FEHA), including discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and accommodation cases. While committed to resolving disputes amicably, Steve took cases to trial when necessary, consistently resulting in successful verdicts while maintaining professional relationships with opposing counsel.

In 2009, Steve was appointed Assistant Chief Counsel at Caltrans, overseeing tort litigation across much of Southern California. In this role, he managed case preparation, trials and appeals, while also supervising the evaluation and mediation of thousands of high-exposure cases, most of which were successfully resolved. He introduced innovative case evaluation methods, including focus groups and mock trials. He also trained attorneys in discovery, trial advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution. He served with distinction until his retirement in 2025.

Commitment to Community and Service

For more than three decades, Steve has actively contributed to professional and community organizations. He has held leadership roles in the Armenian Bar Association and volunteered as a mediator in programs sponsored by the courts and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Most recently, through the Resolve Law Program, he has mediated numerous tort and employment cases, with a resolution rate of over 85%. Steve has also provided pro bono legal services to communities impacted by local crises, including the recent Southern California wildfires.

Mediation Approach

Drawing from his dual perspective as both a plaintiff and defense attorney, Steve brings empathy, balance, and a risk-focused approach to mediation. His ability to understand both sides of a dispute helps parties realistically assess their positions and move toward resolution.

Personal

Steve is married to Shaghig Dadaian, a retired longtime insurance defense litigator. Together, they have three children, all of whom are successful medical professionals. In his free time, Steve enjoys backpacking in the Sierras, fishing, and mountain biking.