Scott D. Laird
Concentrating in General Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Insurance Bad Faith and Contested Probate matters
Education
- J.D. Loyola Law School, Los Angeles 1997
Dean’s List, 1996, 1997
Am Jur Award for Ethics, Counseling and Negotiation - B.A. University of California at Los Angeles, 1994
Experience
Scott Laird focuses his practice on representing businesses and individuals in commercial, real property, insurance, agriculture and litigated probate disputes in trials, arbitration and litigation. His clients include and have included a national agricultural grower/packer/ shipper, a national manufacturing company, a national insurance adjusting agency, a national homebuilder and other local successful businesses and individuals.
Mr. Laird began his legal career as an Associate at McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte and Carruth. After over three years of representing many of the major national insurance companies in nationwide insurance coverage disputes involving millions of dollars and complex legal and factual issues, he joined Wanger Jones Helsley in 2001. Mr. Laird became a shareholder in 2005.
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Representative Cases
- Recovered over $9 million business interruption arbitration award on behalf of produce packer/shipper.
- Obtained insurance coverage for employer in class action suit where carrier wrongfully denied. (North American Building Maintenance, Inc. v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., 137 Cal. App. 4th 627 (2006).)
- Successfully defended appeal and made new law regarding California Code of Civil Procedure Section 998 Offers. (Westamerica Bank v. MBG Industries, Inc. 158 Cal.App.4th 109 (2007).)
- Sucessfully obtained reversal of “prevailing party” determination and attorney fees award on appeal overcoming “abuse of discretion” standard (Baker v. Boland, 2009 Cal.App.Unpub. Lexis 3569 (2009).)
Publications & Lectures
Mr. Laird has authored and lectured on California’s Unfair Claims Practices Act, claims handling regulations and insurance coverage issues for employers. Mr. Laird’s seminars have been approved for CLE credit in California.