SCOTT D. LAIRD
Attorney
SCOTT D.
SCOTT D.
LAIRD
Mr. Laird focuses his practice on representing businesses and individuals in commercial, real property, insurance, agriculture, partnership/shareholder and litigated probate disputes in trials, arbitration and litigation. His clients include national agricultural growers/packers/shippers, national manufacturing companies, local builders and developers, general contractors, and other successful local businesses and individuals. Mr. Laird joined Wanger Jones Helsley in 2001 and became a shareholder in 2005.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Obtained $8.5 million jury verdict in a complicated real estate and engineering malpractice trial.
- 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).)
- Successfully 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).)
- Won liability phase of insurance bad faith trial resulting in $1.75 million settlement.
- Successfully litigated suit for three growers against packer and marketer resulting in $1.4 million settlement.
Admissions
- California State Bar
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- 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 Southern District of California
Education
- J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 1997 Am Jur Award for Ethics, Counseling and Negotiation, 1997 Dean’s List, 1996
- B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1994
HONORS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Member, Fresno County Bar Association
- Member, San Joaquin County ABTL (Association of Business Trial Lawyers)
- Judge Pro Tem Fresno County Superior Court, 2011-Present
- Board of Directors, Fort Washington Golf and Country Club, 2014-Present (Board President 2016-2017)
Community Involvement
- 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.