--- title: Michael S. Fields url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields --- ![Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields-Michael-2022-web_f45cbc8bc87ab177d2a15b5963ad39c5.jpg) # Michael S. Fields Michael Fields has lectured and written on arbitration law and procedures for over 25 years. He retired from the active practice of law after a 47-year career as a plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney. He remains a licensed member of the California State Bar. Mr. Fields was the 2003 CAALA president, and he was the 2015 recipient of CAALA’s Ted Horn Memorial Award for his many contributions to the profession.He can be contacted at [msflb@aol.com.](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/mailto:msflb@aol.com.) ### Articles written by this author: ## [Health care plan lien claim negotiation — Section 3040](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-november/health-care-plan-lien-claim-negotiation-section-3040 "Health care plan lien claim negotiation — Section 3040") Simplification of Civil Code section 3040: A “five Cs” negotiation guide [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2016 November](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-november) ## [Avoiding arbitration costs and arbitrator fees](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-april/avoiding-arbitration-costs-and-arbitrator-fees "Avoiding arbitration costs and arbitrator fees") Must the consumer pay for required arbitration? A guide to the Code of Civil Procedure section 1284.3, subd. (b)(1) [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2017 April](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-april) ## [Lien guide for the trial attorney (Part 1 of 2)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-october/lien-guide-for-the-trial-attorney-part-1-of-2 "Lien guide for the trial attorney (Part 1 of 2)") A compendium on Attorney liens for contingent fees – includes application of new ethics rules effective November 1 [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2018 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-october) ## [Lien guide for the trial attorney (Part 2 of 2)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-november/lien-guide-for-the-trial-attorney-part-2-of-2 "Lien guide for the trial attorney (Part 2 of 2)") Attorney liens for fees and advanced case costs – the final part of a two-part article [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2018 November](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-november) [![Medicare Advantage lien claims: The other Medicare lien](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields-istock-177732003_643e121f284a9d87f26187f318ad7c4e.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-november/medicare-advantage-lien-claims-the-other-medicare-lien "Medicare Advantage lien claims: The other Medicare lien") ## [Medicare Advantage lien claims: The other Medicare lien](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-november/medicare-advantage-lien-claims-the-other-medicare-lien "Medicare Advantage lien claims: The other Medicare lien") A Medicare Advantage lien claim is as powerful as a lien claim by Medicare [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2019 November](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-november) ## [Liens galore](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-september/liens-galore "Liens galore") An updated summary of lien claims for plaintiffs’ attorneys [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2020 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-september) [![Ethical standards for neutral and party-appointed arbitrators](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields_istock-1073562300_a0bc0f749b0922e7d774eb093ebad13f.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-november/ethical-standards-for-neutral-and-party-appointed-arbitrators "Ethical standards for neutral and party-appointed arbitrators") ## [Ethical standards for neutral and party-appointed arbitrators](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-november/ethical-standards-for-neutral-and-party-appointed-arbitrators "Ethical standards for neutral and party-appointed arbitrators") Most PI arbitrations are conducted before a single neutral arbitrator, whereas predispute arbitration agreements require a panel of three neutral arbitrators; the ethical standards are different [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2020 November](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-november) [![When does the mediation process begin and end?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields_istock-1148751496_a483aac4c0d69a7f3a526d3977919be2.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september/when-does-the-mediation-process-begin-and-end "When does the mediation process begin and end?") ## [When does the mediation process begin and end?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september/when-does-the-mediation-process-begin-and-end "When does the mediation process begin and end?") A look at the beginning and endpoints of mediation confidentiality [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2021 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september) [![Discovery referee appointments](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields_istock-499084155_1317c7c35af264030879d9504964f89f.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september/discovery-referee-appointments "Discovery referee appointments") ## [Discovery referee appointments](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september/discovery-referee-appointments "Discovery referee appointments") A guide for the trial attorney highlighting three different types of referee appointment [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2021 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-september) [![Private judging with a stipulated “temporary judge”](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields-istock-1205161022_e45c1794bdee1f53c1bcf74d686ce7bb.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-september/private-judging-with-a-stipulated-temporary-judge "Private judging with a stipulated “temporary judge”") ## [Private judging with a stipulated “temporary judge”](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-september/private-judging-with-a-stipulated-temporary-judge "Private judging with a stipulated “temporary judge”") An ADR alternative [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2022 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-september) [![When conduct or impoverishment waives the right to compel arbitration](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields-istock-1328855113_42c8c65dad2a0b04a35cc57e6d02ee72.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-july/when-conduct-or-impoverishment-waives-the-right-to-compel-arbitration "When conduct or impoverishment waives the right to compel arbitration") ## [When conduct or impoverishment waives the right to compel arbitration](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-july/when-conduct-or-impoverishment-waives-the-right-to-compel-arbitration "When conduct or impoverishment waives the right to compel arbitration") The law and selected case examples of conduct that waive the right to compel arbitration [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2023 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-july) ## [Personal injury late-claim applications](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-may/personal-injury-late-claim-applications "Personal injury late-claim applications") Three steps to know before suing a government entity [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2024 May](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-may) ## [Federal Arbitration Act basics: A quick look at the federal act that dominates many arbitrations](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-september/federal-arbitration-act-basics-a-quick-look-at-the-federal-act-that-dominates-many-arbitrations "Federal Arbitration Act basics: A quick look at the federal act that dominates many arbitrations") An explanation of the act’s 16 sections with relevant cases [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2024 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-september) [![Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Fields-istock-511771479_9bc4cd91f46e8210bd99ba7c33ad9c45.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/enforceable-written-mediation-settlement-agreements "Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements") ## [Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/enforceable-written-mediation-settlement-agreements "Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements") An exception to mediation confidentiality [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2025 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september) ## [Never agree to a full-day mediation session!](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-september/never-agree-to-a-full-day-mediation-session "Never agree to a full-day mediation session!") Mediator fees can be substantially reduced when negotiations are confined to a four-hour *morning* session [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") [2026 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-september)