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James Otto Heiting

James Otto Heiting

Heiting & Irwin
  • Personal Injury, Insurance Claims, Arbitration & Mediation ...
  • California
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Biography

The only past President of the State Bar of California ever elected from the Inland Empire, James Heiting handles civil litigation matters throughout California, recovering over $400 million for clients, dealing with wrongful death, serious injury, professional malpractice and transportation accidents. Also past President of Riverside’s County Bar, his firm has served the Inland Empire for over 45 years.
The managing partner of Heiting & Irwin has been practicing law since receiving his doctorate degree in law in 1976. Mr. Heiting is admitted to practice before all courts of the state, the federal courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the California and United States Supreme Courts.
Mr. Heiting also served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, was a co-founder of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court (training younger or less experienced members of the bar) and a charter member of the Inland Empire Federal Bar Association. He was president of the Other Bar (a statewide organization of judges and lawyers helping other lawyers and judges) 1991-1993, and a board member from 1988-2003 and again since 2006. He is or has been a member of multiple federal and state litigation, ethics, and trial associations. He served for several years as the ABA west coast Commissioner appointed by the American Bar Ass'n. President to oversee Lawyer Assistance Programs, evaluating, and providing leadership and support for programs in nine states.
Mr. Heiting has served in a variety of roles in Superior Court and the Federal District Court. He is also sought after as a privately requested and court appointed arbitrator and mediator in state courts and the California Court of Appeal. He has been an invited speaker, lecturer and panelist for the State Bar and a variety of legal and community organizations.
Emphasizing civil litigation in his career, Mr. Heiting represents clients throughout the State in bringing and/or defending a wide variety of claims.

Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Insurance Claims
Bad Faith Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance
Arbitration & Mediation
Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
Additional Practice Area
  • Wrongful Death
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingent Fees
    We also advance costs and expenses in appropriate cases.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
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9th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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United States Court of Federal Claims
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • French
  • Spanish
Professional Experience
Senior Associate
Heiting & Irwin
- Current
Managing Partner, emphasizing civil litigation.
Education
Western State Univ
Undergraduate Degree
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Western State Univ COL
Law Degree
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Awards
Member
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Florentino Garza Fortitude Award
San Bernardino County Bar Association
James H. Krieger Meritorious Service Award
Riverside County Bar Association
Ralph N. Kleps Award
Fourth District Court of Appeal
For improvement in the administration of the courts.
Professional Associations
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Member
- Current
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San Bernardino County Bar Association  # Lifetime member
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Chair of Substance Abuse Advisory Board
- Current
Activities: Vice Chair, Task Force on Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health (2015-2017); Vice Chair, Programming/Distance Learning/eSource of the Substance Use Disorders Task Force (2014-2015); Appointed Health Law and Policy Coordinatory Committee Liaison (2014-2015); Chair of Substance Abuse Advisory Board (2013-2014 and Vice Chair 2012-2013); ADR and Conflict Management in Healthcare Committee (2014-2015); West Coast Commissioner for CoLAP Program (2007-2010); Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs Diversity Initiative Committee and Judicial Assistance Initiative (2009 to present); Chair (2009-2010); Advisory Committee to the Standing Committee on Substance Abuse (2010-2012); Dispute Resolution Section Member
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Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court  # Emeritus member since 2002
Founding member, "Master" status
- Current
Activities: Board of Directors (1992-1996)
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California State Bar  # 68996
Member
- Current
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State Bar of California
President
-
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Riverside County Bar Association
President
-
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Speaking Engagements
An Inconvenient Truth: Substance Abuse in the Legal Community, MCLE substance abuse panel, Hollywood, California
Hispanic National Bar Association
Sex, Drugs and Alcohol: Ethical Issues and Challenges of Addiction., Law Seminar, Rancho Las Palmas, Calfironia
College Community Association of Lawyers of Rancho Las Palmas
Diversity on the Bench: Getting There and Serving Without Blemish or Removal, National Bar Association Conference, San Diego, California
National Bar Association
Personal Journeys of Discovery, Western Conference of Professionals, Newport Beach, California
Western Conference of Professionals in Recovery
Chemical Dependency and Intervention, Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers Convention, San Diego, California
Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers
Examining and Id'ing Substance Abuse: Real Life Survivor Stories, CAALA Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
CAALA
My drinking isn't hurting anybody - why an't you just leave me alone!, MCLE meeting, Rancho Cucamonga, California
East/West Family Law Council
Addiction: The Equal Opportunity Destroyer, MCLE Madness, Riverside, California
University of California-Redlands
Raising Lazarus, Lancaster, California
Antelope Valley Bar Association
Adventure: Life to the Fullest. Love in the Fast Lane. Rocket to Success, and Plummeting to (and beyond) Earth. All with the assistance of Alcohol and Drugs... You too, can have all this and more!
GIEMLA (Greater Inland Empire Municipal Law Association)
Negotiations with difficult people and how to get past impasse in mediation., MCLE, La Verne, California
University of La Verne College of Law
Ethics, Bias and Substance Abuse Blitz, LaVerne, California
University of La Verne College of Law
Working as a paralegal in a paranormal state of mind., ICAP Educational Conference, San Bernardino, California
Inland Counties Association of Paralegals
Working for a firm without a firm grip on reality., Fresno, California
Baker, Manock & Jensen
What is happening here? Why? I don't understand!, MCLE Madness, Riverside, California
University of California-Riverside
Alcohol/Drug Abuse in the Legal Profession, MCLE Blitz, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Western San Bernardino County Bar Association
Civility in the Courtroom, Richard T. Fields Bar Association meeting, Riverside, California
Richard T. Fields Bar Association
Addiction Travel Agent: Come Fly With Us, Riverside County Bar Association MCLE Marathon, Riverside, California
Riverside County Bar Association
Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession, Bridging the Gap Program, Ventura, California
Ventury County Bar Association
Youth, Power, Career, Success. . . and the Equal Opportunity Destroyer, Orange County Bar Association, Orange, California
Collaborative Divorse Solutions of Orange County (CDSOC)
Adventure: Life to the Fullest. Love in the Fast Lane. Rocket to Success, and Plummeting to (and beyond) Earth. All with the assistance of Alcohol and Drugs... You too, can have all this and more!, Ventura Bar Association, Ventura, California
Ventura Estate Planning Section
Voices of Recovery Podcasts, American Bar Association
Substance Abuse and the Legal Profession, Riverside County Bar Association, Riverside, California
Barristers
Our Profession: Why Worry About 1 in 5? Helping to Identify, Recover and Thrive, Riverside County Bar Association MCLE Marathon, Riverside, California
Riverside County Bar Association
The Lawyer, the Addict: Facing a Silent but Prevalent Issue in the Profession, American Bar Association 2018 Section Annual Conference
Practicing Immigration Law in Turbulent Times, How to Manage Stress and Avoid Substance Abuse, Orange County Bar Association, Orange, California
Immigration Law Section
Solos and Small Firms Disadvantaged in Recovery and Discipline, Riverside County Bar Association, Riverside, California
Recovering From Chemical Dependency, Riverside County Bar Association, Riverside, California
How Attorneys Select Experts, Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE)
Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
Legal Answers
15 Questions Answered
Q. I had an accident my insurance denied my coverage because I was at work now I'm being sued is there anything I can do
A: Either you were working and your employer covers it; or you were not working and your personal insurance covers it. There may be some odd circumstances that interfere with that simple analysis; but that seems to be the common sense of your situation. Good luck.
Q. How hard is it to win a case from a fall do to side walk being uneven and trip hazard.
A: Depends a lot on the height of the defect, the cause and how long it has been there. History of other falls and totality of circumstances make a difference. They can be very difficult to get past motions claiming the defect is "trivial".
Q. Would Robertson's Trucking Company be liable for vehicle expenses related to tire blow-outs? Amount seeking $3,032.63
A: Take them to small claims court.
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Contact & Map
Heiting & Irwin
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Medical Malpractice
6216 Brockton Ave.
Ste. 111
Riverside, CA 92506
Telephone: (951) 682-6400
Heiting & Irwin
Workers' Comp Division
6346 Brockton Ave.
Riverside, CA 92506
Telephone: (951) 682-6400