Scott is licensed to practice in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. He represents business clients and professionals in a broad range of practice areas, including professional liability, labor & employment, healthcare, internal investigations, defense of corporate directors and officers, and defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims. He serves in an outside general counsel and risk management role for multiple business clients along the Central Gulf Coast. He has also served as lead counsel for clients in a diverse range of jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, class actions hearings, and administrative hearings. Scott is also a registered Mediator on the Alabama State Court Mediator Roster and he also serves as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.
Professional Recognition
- AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America®.
- Rising Star for the State of Alabama by Mid-South Super Lawyers® magazine.
- Recognized as a Leading Litigation Attorney under 40 years of age in Benchmark Litigation's annual Under 40 Hot List 2019.
- Named a "Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation.
- Graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy.
- Board Member for CLM's Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality Board.
- Certified Litigation Management Professional .
- Graduate of the CLM's Litigation Management Institute.
Community Involvement
- Scott is a member of the Mobile Bar Association and currently serves on the Grievance Committee. He has previously served on the Young Lawyers Executive Committee and the Professional Relations and Entertainment Committees.
- He regularly handles assigned cases for indigent clients through the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program.
- Scott is a native of Mobile, where he resides with his wife and three children.
- Scott has served on the Board of Directors for multiple non-profit entities, including the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama and Eye Heart World, Inc.
Highlights
- Obtained a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court affirming complete dismissal of all claims asserted against a national fraternity arising out of the alleged conversion and fraudulent transfer of real property that was owned by members of a local chapter organization.
- Obtained favorable ruling from Florida First District Court of Appeal, affirming summary judgment in favor of condominium association on claims that association’s board of directors exceeded statutory authority, and awarding attorney’s fees to client on appeal.
- Obtained an order denying a class certification attempt against a major tourist development client in Northwest Florida that was alleged to be responsible for class allegations relating to violations of the Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act.
- Obtained a defense verdict for the Board of Directors of an Alabama condominium association in jury trial involving alleged failure to comply with the Alabama Uniform Condominium Act and Declaration of Condominium.
- Obtained complete summary judgment and affirmance and opinion by Eleventh Circuit on behalf of national grocery chain as to claims for negligence and wantonness arising out of personal injury sustained by Plaintiff in Alabama store.
- Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of marine construction company in federal district court by successfully proving that the defendant’s vessel was not in “marine peril,” where plaintiff had asserted a claim for maritime salvage award for saving vessel that was allegedly adrift.
- Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of gymnastics facility in Alabama in a personal injury jury trial wherein Plaintiff claimed the facility was unreasonably unsafe.
Presentations and Publications
- “Legal Brief: A Look at the Duties of a Premises Owner to Preserve,” Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 1 (2018).
- Recent Development in Production & Preservation of Surveillance Video, 2016 CLM Restaurant, Retail, and Hospitality Conference, Tampa, Florida (2016).
- Handling Internal Employment Investigations, Florida (2015).
- Legal Overview and Update – Employment Law Issues (FMLA and ADA), Florida (2014).
- Defense of Restaurant and Retailer Claims in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, Kansas City, MO (2012).
- “Insurers Beware: Defending Claims Under Alabama’s Direct Action Statute,” Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA) Journal, 2012 Spring Edition
- A Comparative Look at Alabama’s Stance on Ethical Issues Faced by Insurance Defense Lawyers, 30 J. Leg. Prof. 159 (2005-2006).
News & Insights
- 30 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Sybil Newton and Scott Stevens Obtain Favorable Ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court
- Starnes Davis Florie Highly Ranked in Benchmark Litigation 2023
- 30 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2023
- Vaccine Mandate Update: OSHA Clear to Enforce, CMS in Limbo
- TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
- STARNES RANKED AS A “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FIRM” IN THE 2022 EDITION OF BENCHMARK LITIGATION
- COVID-19 Is Once Again Changing The Employment Landscape: Are You Keeping Up?
- L&E News Alert: Biden’s Executive Order & the Effect on Non-Competes
- L&E News Alert: Alabama Unemployment (UI) Fraud and Abuse
- Sybil Newton and Scott Stevens Prevail in Florida Appellate Court and Secure Attorney’s Fee Award
- Starnes Ranked as a “Highly Recommended Firm” in the 2021 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Set to Expire in 2021
- Twenty-Six Attorneys Named to the 2020 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Alabama Employers Are Now Required to Notify Separated Employees About Potential Unemployment Benefits
- Mobile County Retailer Alert
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Business Interruption, Property Damage, and Other Insurance Coverage Issues
- COVID-19 PREMISES ALERT FOR BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS
- Labor & Employment News Alert – 2020: A New Year Full of New Rules
- THIRTY-ONE SDF ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2019 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS