Scott Riddle is an innovative and energetic litigator who focuses on high-stakes tort litigation and investigations. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide array of challenging and high-profile tort matters involving negligence, product liability, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty, among others. And with extensive courtroom experience and involvement in over 20 trials, Scott has been lead counsel for eight trials and received a winning verdict each time.
As an attorney who clients turn to when things get tough, Scott has represented companies and their employees in cases involving commercial trucking and mass transit accidents, commercial and private plane crashes, derailments and crossing accidents, and other casualty incidents involving premises and product liability. In addition, his clients have faced major industrial and environmental accidents, unwanted connections to national tragedies and terrorist attacks, mass tort and class action lawsuits, product recalls, and intense media scrutiny. Two clients have even been directly targeted in presidential tweets. In every instance, Scott puts his clients first and works tirelessly to mitigate negative fallout.
Described by clients as a “creative thinker” and “legit trial lawyer,” Scott leverages legal curiosity, data/technology, and an old-school work ethic to focus on what matters: winning. In service to his clients, he pays great attention to detail at every stage, helping cut through complex legal issues to develop inventive and unique arguments. Scott has earned a reputation as a go-to litigator and trusted advisor for clients who appreciate his imaginative and disruptive strategies.
Representative Experience
Scott represented a regional trucking company in a breach of contract trial. The opposing party, a multinational waste collection company, attempted to terminate a long-term exclusive hauling contract under false pretenses so the company could bring the work in-house. Scott’s client filed suit, “bet the company,” and tried the case to a jury. After a one-week trial, the jury awarded all requested damages and attorneys’ fees. The case settled during appeal on favorable terms.
Scott was part of a trial team that convinced a Texas state judge to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit after six days of trial. The plaintiffs argued the client, a waste management company, and its driver caused an accident that led to the death of their family member. In a motion for directed verdict, Scott argued the uniqueness of the decedent’s injury and death required specific expert testimony that plaintiffs failed to present at trial. Although there was no on-point appellate precedent to support the creative argument, the judge agreed and dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety.
The founders of an innovative telecommunications company were embroiled in an internal dispute over alleged breach of fiduciary duty and mishandling of millions in investments. Shareholders filed a derivative lawsuit. Scott argued and won a summary judgment dismissing all of the plaintiffs’ claims against the founders. Scott also sought a declaratory judgment on behalf of the company to dilute the plaintiffs’ ownership. It was granted with an award for attorneys’ fees. Scott used this judgment to obtain an ex parte turnover order, which in turn was used to reclaim the entirety of the plaintiffs’ ownership in the company.
Scott served on a trial team hired by a national trucking company to try a high-damages lawsuit filed by a police officer. The officer, responding to a call with lights and sirens, was gravely injured when the company’s truck struck his police cruiser in an intersection. The collision occurred at 1 a.m. During preparation, Scott discovered the truck driver, who had exceeded his permissible driving hours at the time of the collision, doctored his logbooks and lied in his deposition. The prior defense team was unaware of the issue, but the officer’s lawyer was not. Scott and the trial team were able to adapt, prepare a solid defense, and convince a jury to issue a defense verdict.
Scott represented a multinational hospitality company after a famous entertainer fell off stage during a show resulting in serious, debilitating injuries. During the discovery phase, Scott was able to uncover a history of falls and balance issues involving the entertainer throwing into question claims against the client’s stage design and safety protocols. The case settled on favorable grounds.
Scott was brought on to defend a national restaurant chain 45 days before trial. The plaintiff, a world-renowned bodybuilder, sued the restaurant for premises liability and credibly claimed that his injuries forced him to lose seven figures of income. In the month before trial, Scott was able to disqualify the plaintiff’s lead expert and win summary judgment dismissing the case in its entirety.
Scott’s client, a regional trucking company, suspected a high-level employee of diverting contracts to a new trucking entity the employee created, in secrecy, as a direct competitor. Scott quickly assembled investigative and litigation teams. The litigation team swiftly obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order. The investigative team, using a computer forensics expert and an emergency discovery order, established ample evidence to support the client’s suspicions. Scott put the now-fired employee through a grueling deposition that made it clear he was dead to rights. The parties reached a favorable settlement before the completion of a temporary injunction hearing.
Scott represented a Texas corporation in a battle with an aircraft management company charged with managing its corporate jet. Scott’s client discovered the management company was defrauding it under the guise of its charter services. Scott’s client was fearful the management company would destroy the aircraft’s maintenance logbooks when served with the lawsuit. Scott obtained an ex parte writ of sequestration to permit a sheriff deputy and flight crew to secure the logbooks and fly the jet to a safe airport. Once litigation ensued, the management company took an aggressive posture, asserted counterclaims, and accused Scott’s client of making false and misleading statements. Scott meticulously tracked the jet’s three-year history, uncovering the underlying fraud and “cooked books.” The case settled on very favorable terms.
Scott represented a collection of pilots and operators after a series of similar crashes. Scott built out a team of experts formerly with the FAA and NTSB and quickly investigated the crashes to identify the cause(s). Despite tremendous pushback from the investigatory agencies and manufacturer, the team identified probable design and manufacturing defects. The team also uncovered similar incidents unreported by the manufacturer's pilots. Scott developed a media plan that resulted in a groundswell of support and a bombshell article in The Wall Street Journal. Scott and his team turned the tide from determinations likely focused on pilot error to a full-out investigation into the manufacturer that led to numerous service letters and mandatory bulletins and a grounding of the fleet.
Scott represented a company following its connection to a mass shooting. Scott quickly organized a multidisciplinary team to address unprecedented pressure on the company. The team, led by Scott, dealt with a bevy of issues: analysis of complex risk exposure and preparedness for looming high-volume litigation; numerous governmental investigations; intense media attention; insurance coverage dispute; and likely reputational ruin. Scott and the team combined rapid response with strategic guidance to mitigate long-term legal, business, regulatory, and public relations impacts from the crisis.
At the request of the majority investor in an oilfield trucking company, Scott conducted an internal investigation into the company’s spending practices and management of financial capital. Scott teamed up with an accounting firm and quickly identified misuse of confidential information; tortious interference with existing and prospective business relationships; and breaches of fiduciary duties by the operating partners. Under threat of litigation, the targeted partners forfeited their ownership. Creative steps were taken to recover lost capital.
Professional Recognition
Listed for Commercial Litigation
Texas Rising Stars
Best Lawyers Under 40
Related Services
Education, Admissions & Activities
Education
Baylor University School of Law
J.D., 2010
Dean’s Academic Excellence Scholarship
Pakis Giotes Page & Burleson Advocacy Award
University of Arkansas
B.A., 2007
Arkansas Alumni Association Scholarship
Walmart Dependent Scholarship
Bar Admissions
Texas
2011
Arkansas
2011
Court Admissions
United States District Court of Arkansas
Eastern and Western Districts
United States District Court of Texas
Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western
Professional and Community Activities
DFW RIMS -Dallas
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Aviation Emergency Response Organization