About the author
Retired Judge Richard Knepper is a 1973 graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law, where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award.
His judicial experience began in 1983 and included 13 years on the Ohio Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, and 8 years on the State of Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals. As a trial judge, Judge Knepper negotiated, settled or tried more than 14,000 civil cases. He also concluded approximately 10,000 criminal felony cases by negotiation plea or trial. As an appellate judge, he sat on approximately 4,000 appellate panels and wrote 1,500 appellate opinions. He served on the appellate court through January 2005, when he retired from the bench to form Richard Knepper & Associates, Ltd. to provide mediation and arbitration services and training.
He has mediated approximately 1,200 cases in such subjects as medical malpractice, personal injury, construction, probate, worker's compensation, appropriations, banking and product liability.
Judge Knepper has received formal mediation training at the National Judicial College, University of Nevada, Reno; American Academy of ADR Attorneys, Des Moines, Iowa; Capital University Law School, Center for Dispute Resolution; Harvard Law School; Ohio Supreme Court, Dispute Resolution Section; Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio; and Peacemaker Ministries, Billings, Montana.