Ralph W. Thompson III

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.

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

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

Bachelor of Arts
Major: History
Minors: Political Science & French
Loma Linda University, Riverside, CA
June, 1964

State of California Standard Teaching Credential (Life)
1969

Criminal Law and Criminal Evidence
Instructor in Law, 1969–1977
Monterey Peninsula College

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

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

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

Speaker/Panelist, 1989
California Trial Lawyers Association Advocacy College

Speaker/Panelist, 1990
California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention

Mediation and Arbitration
Speaker/Panelist, 1998
California Judges Association 10th Annual Retired Judges Conference

American Arbitration Association
Former Member Roster of Neutrals, 1978–2005

Monterey County Bar Association
Member, 1968–Present
President, 1995

Monterey County Superior Court Judicial Arbitration Panel

Monterey County Superior Court Mediation Panel

California State Bar Association
Member, 1968–Present
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
President and Member, Council of Advisors, 1993–1995

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

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

Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Member, Board of Directors, 1998–2002
Board Chair, 2000

Rotary International (Rotary Club of Monterey)

Assistant Trust Examiner, 1967–1968
U.S. Treasury Department

Deputy District Attorney, 1968–1971
Monterey County District Attorney's Office

Alumnus of the Year Award
awarded by Loma Linda University (La Sierra)
1985

Chief Justice Phil S. Gibson Award for Outstanding Community Service
awarded by Monterey County Bar Association
2003

Robert C. Littlefield Award for Community Service
awarded by Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
2007

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

The Thompson Mediation & Arbitration Center

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 attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and Pacific Union College (Bachelor of Science, Corporate Fitness and Recreation Management). Chandra is a Certified Pilates Instructor and former Tennis Professional. She currently lives in Muscat, Oman with her husband Colonel Steven Soucek and three children. (Steven is Chief, Office of Military Cooperation - Oman. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point; University of Virginia, Masters Degree in Middle Eastern Studies; and the National War College in Washington, D.C.)

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 (wildlandmanagement.com).You can also email Rob at thompsonwrm@gmail.com. Rob and his wife Nora (University of California, Santa Barbara) live in Monterey.