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For the past twenty-three years, Mary Jean Pedneau has specialized in the areas of titleinsurance defense and plaintiffs’ actions, including actions to quiet title, adverse possession,reformation of grant deeds and deeds of trust, and other legal and equitable remedies to clear title to real property for purchasers’ interests and lenders’ interests. Ms. Pedneau also handles mechanics’ liens and stop notice litigation. Ms. Pedneau performs claims analysis, includingissuing coverage opinions, from the inception of the claim to the final resolution resulting in title as insured. Ms Pedneau has also responded to Department of Insurance and Department of Corporation inquiries regarding policy claims and escrow claims.
Ms. Pedneau has also successfully prosecuted recoupment actions on behalf of various title and insurance companies for claims payments that were made pursuant to the terms and conditions of policies issued to the insureds.
In addition, Ms. Pedneau has developed a specialty in the resolution of problem mobile home transfers. Mobile home transfers involve the preparation and submission of various documents that are required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”). In many instances the transfers are submitted to HCD, but languish in their office waiting for review and approval of the transfer. Once HCD reviews the transfer and determines that there are problems with the documentation, the file may not be returned to the escrow company for further processing for many months after the transaction has already closed. Over the years that Ms. Pedneau has handled these types of claims, she has developed various contacts with HCD and other vendors, which results in the ability to resolve mobile home transfer claims in a prompt and efficient manner.
Ms. Pedneau has prosecuted and defended litigation for various title companies and their insureds, handled claims and authored coverage opinions for companies, including American Title Insurance Company, American Title Company, Chicago Title Insurance Company, Chicago Title Company, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Land Title Company, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Fidelity National Title Company, First American Title Insurance Company, First American Title Company, Gateway Title Company,Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Lawyers Title Company, New Century Title Company,North American Title Insurance Company, North American Title Company, Old Republic Title Company, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Priority Title Company, Security Union Title Insurance Company, Southland Title Corporation, Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Stewart Title of California, Inc., Ticor Title Insurance Company, Transamerica Title Insurance Company,Transnation Title Insurance Company, United Capital Title Insurance Company, United Title Company, United General Title Insurance Company and WFG Title Insurance Company.
Over the years, Ms. Pedneau handled litigation and claims all over the State of California. As a result, the firm has various contacts with title employees, lenders, appraisers,inspectors, surveyors, civil engineers and dispute resolution personnel. With this bank of contacts, Ms. Pedneau is able to quickly and economically resolve assigned litigation matters and claims.
Ms. Pedneau has been a lecturer on the subject of Ethical Claims Handling, Fraud,Forgery and Identity Theft to various title and escrow company staff training seminars. Ms.Pedneau has performed services as a Judge Pro Tem for the San Bernardino County Superior Court and recently completed a three year term as a member of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluations for the State Bar of California. Ms. Pedneau is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Title Insurance Subsection, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section – American Bar Association and an affiliate member of California Land Title Association.
Ms. Pedneau is admitted only in California, and the use of this web site is not intended to give legal advice in any state.
Ms. Pedneau can only consult on legals matters in California, including matters that may be filed in Federal court in California.