For over 40 years, Scott has focused a significant portion of his practice on the defense of liquor liability, professional liability (legal, accounting, employment, D&O, non-profit, HOA) and significant exposure excess insurance claims. Scott has tried over 100 jury cases to verdict, many involving dram shop, medical and dental malpractice and product liability matters.
In addition to his law practice, Scott has lectured extensively to various claims and trial lawyer associations concerning liquor liability, early mediation and/or settlement negotiations and trial tactics. He serves as the National Litigation Coordinator for high-exposure liquor liability, professional liability and excess claims cases for a number of national insurance companies. Scott has actively defended liquor liability, casualty and professional liability claims in a variety of jurisdictions including Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Washington, Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Colorado.
Scott previously served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute for its annual Tort Law Update Program lecturing attorneys on subjects including dram shop liability and the admission of evidence of alcohol in civil cases. He has served as a judge pro tem in Delaware County (1997-2002), co-chairman of the Delaware County Civil Trial Practice Committee (1998-2002) and a member of the Delaware County Judicial Advisory Committee.
Scott graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and completed master's credits toward a Master of Psychosocial Science at the Pennsylvania State University from 1976 through 1978. He concluded his legal education at Widener University School of Law in 1981. Scott began his career with Marshall Dennehey as a law clerk in 1979 and continued employment with the firm following his admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1981.
Honors & awards
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Litigation Counsel of America Fellows
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
2005-2021
Year joined
1979
Results
Successfully Defended Appeal Sustaining Objections of Improper Venue
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Product Liability
October 3, 2025
We successfully defended the plaintiff’s appeal of a trial court decision sustaining preliminary objections on the grounds of improper venue. This case involved the death of a 19-year-old woman at a university who fell down an 11-story trash chute in an off-campus condominium building. In this mixed negligence and product liability case, we represented two of the multiple defendants, the condominium association and the building management company.
Thought Leadership
Dram Shop Cases Are Perfectly Suited for Early Mediation
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Hospitality & Liquor Liability
February 22, 2019
Classes/Seminars Taught
Dram Shop, The Toxicology and the Law, National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, August 1, 2024
Dram Shop,The Toxicology and The Law, National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, December, 2020
The New Fair Share Act and Dram Shop Liquor Liability, Markel Insurance Co. and Markel International Insurance, August 2011
Recent Developments in Dram Shop Litigation, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, April 2010
Mealey's Retail Hospitality Liability Conference , Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2005
Annual Symposium on Alcoholic Beverage Law , National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, March 2004
Dram Shop Liability , Insurance Society of Philadelphia, December 2003
Tort Law Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, August 2008
Liquor Liability , Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, November 1999
Liquor Liability Seminar , Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Pittsburgh, Mechanicsburg and Philadelphia), 1999-Present
Tort Law Update (Evidence and Expert Witnesses) , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1995-Present
Evidence of Intoxication , Philadelphia Bar Education Foundation, December 1995
Defending Liquor Liability Cases , Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, June 1992
Dram Shop Liability , Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Winter 1991
American College of Forensic Psychiatrists, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999
Pro Bono Activities
Advisory Board of the Nerney Leadership Institute at Cabrini College, Advisory Board, 2014-2016
National Advisory Board, United States Liability Insurance Group
