"CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."

Ratings Explanation

Areas Of Practice:
Civil and Commercial Litigation; Business and Real Estate Litigation; Probate, Trust and Estates Litigation; Wills and Trust; Professional Negligence and Insurance Litigation; Serious Injury and Wrongful Death Claims.

Admitted:
California State Bar, 1968
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1968
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1972
U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1981

Education:
California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA, June, 1967
     Juris Doctorate

Loma Linda University, Riverside, California, June, 1964
     Bachelor of Arts
     Major: History
     Minor: Political Science
     Minor: French

[State of California Standard Teaching Credential (Life), 1969]

Classes/Seminars Taught:
Instructor in Law, Criminal Law and Criminal Evidence,
     Monterey Peninsula College, 1969 - 1977

Adjunct Professor, Administration of Justice, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights      and Civil Liberties, and Political Science
     Golden Gate University, 1971 - 1986

Professor, Legal and Public Policy Programs, Civil Litigation, Civil Procedure,      and Tort and Personal Injury Practice,
      University of California, Santa Cruz, 1997 - 2001

Speaker/Panelist,
     National Convention Association for the Advancement of Medical      Instrumentation, 1987

Speaker/Panelist,
      California Trial Lawyers Association Advocacy College, 1989

Speaker/Panelist,
     California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, 1990

Speaker/Panelist,
      Mediation and Arbitration,
      California Judges Association 10th Annual Retired Judges Conference,      1998
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Honors:
Recipient,
      Alumnus of the Year Award (1985), Loma Linda University (La Sierra)

Recipient,
      Chief Justice Phil S. Gibson Award for Outstanding Community Service
      (2003), awarded by the Monterey County Bar Association.

Recipient,
      Robert C. Littlefield Award for Community Service (2007),
      awarded by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

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Affiliations:

American Arbitration Association, Former Member Roster of Neutrals
     (1978 - 2005)

Monterey County Bar Association, 1968 - Present Member, Past President      (1995)

Monterey County Superior Court Judicial Arbitration Panel

Monterey County Superior Court Mediation Panel

California State Bar Association,
      1968 - Present Member, Chair Litigation/Jury Instructions Section
      (1984-1986)

Monterey County Trial Lawyers Association, President (1984-1985)

Consumer Attorneys of California, Member (1974 - 2000), Member Board
      of Governors (1984-1990)

American Bar Association

Legal Services for Seniors, Past President (1993-1995) and Member,
      Council of Advisors

Pacific Grove Unified School District, 1975 - 1979 Member, Board of      Trustees, Past President

First Night Monterey, 1997 - 2002 Member, Board of Directors

Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Member Board
      of Directors (1998-2002), Board Chair (2000)

Rotary International (Rotary Club of Monterey)

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Past Positions:
U.S. Treasury Department, Assistant Trust Examiner, 1967 - 1968

Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Deputy District Attorney,
     1968 - 1971
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Recognitions:
Recipient,
      Chief Justice Phil S. Gibson Award for Outstanding Community Service      (2003)

AV® Rating as Published in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of
     Preeminent Lawyers

(AV® is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., Used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedure's standards and policies)Back to Top

Ancillary Business Practices:
The Thompson Mediation & Arbitration Center

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Personal Information
Ralph was born in Glendale, California and is married to Twyla McLennan Thompson. Adventure recreation and sports have always been an important part of the Thompson family. Twyla enjoys tennis, golf, fly-fishing, and water and snow skiing. Ralph enjoys adventure travel, mountain biking, tennis, snow skiing, and backpacking. They also enjoy spending their spare time with their three children and six grandchildren:

Chandra Lee Soucek (University of Colorado, Boulder and Pacific Union College, Bachelor of Science, Corporate Fitness and Recreation Management) is a Certified Pilates Instructor and Tennis Professional. Chandra, her husband Colonel Steven Soucek (United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1983; University of Virginia, Masters Degree in Middle Eastern Studies), live with their three children in Northern Virginia. Steven completed his assignment as the Oman/Qatar/U.A.E./Yemen Country Director, Office of the Secretary of Defense, at the Pentagon, graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C., served for a year as Political-Military Advisor for the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, and is now at the Department of State.

Tressa Lenee Vainwright (California State University, San Francisco, Bachelor of Science/Cum Laude, Adventure Recreation), her husband David and their three children moved from Truckee, California to Bastrop (Austin vicinity), Texas.  Tressa is a homemaker and property manager.  David is a building contractor, partner in a manufactured stone business, and a fine craftsman.  They continue to enjoy the many outdoor activities the area offers.

Rob Thompson (California State University, Chico, Bachelor of Science, Recreation, with an emphasis in Parks and Natural Resource Management; Lacrosse Team Captain; and selected in 1995 and 1996 to the California State Lacrosse All Star Team) completed about ten years as Manager of Natural Resources at The Santa Lucia Conservancy, Carmel Valley, California, and started his own company - Thompson Wildland Management (thompsonwrm@gmail.com). Rob and his wife Nora (University of California, Santa Barbara) live in Monterey.

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Areas of Practice

Education

Honors

Affiliations

Recognitions

Personal Info