Scott Young

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Scott Young’s practice focuses on defense of government entities and employees in civil rights disputes, commercial litigation, and insurance and transportation defense. Scott is also an expert in the statistical analysis of statutes, judges, and jurisdictions and has clients nationwide. Scott is highly respected for his time serving as President of the Utah Federal Bar Association. Scott currently chairs the Utah Bar’s Constitutional Law Section, and he routinely presents on constitutional issues.

Scott enjoys travel and endurance sports. He has lived in Florence, Rome, Naples, and Jerusalem. He has hitchhiked through the Palestinian territories, hiked in Ethiopia, and biked throughout Tuscany. He is an Ironman triathlete, has completed the Boston (twice), New York and Athens marathons, and has cycled around the Sea of Galilee.

Government and Civil Rights Defense

Scott studied civil rights under Professor Jack Greenberg, one of the lead attorneys in Brown v. Board of Education and other landmark civil rights cases, at Columbia Law School. He has successfully defended excessive force, unreasonable seizure, free speech, due process, equal protection, and other constitutional claims.

Commercial Litigation

Scott has represented a number of businesses in complex commercial disputes. He gained an inside perspective on the issues presented by these cases while clerking in federal district court and has used this experience to successfully litigate claims in a number of commercial claims matters.

Insurance and Transportation Defense

Scott has significant experience defending an array of businesses and trucking companies against personal injury claims. He is highly experienced in all phases of litigation, from investigation immediately after a trucking accident, through discovery and trial. He is available 24 hours a day to oversee the investigation of large-scale accidents and ensure that evidence is properly preserved.

Statistical Analysis of Judges and Courts

Only four percent of cases actually go to trial. Ninety-six percent of the time, judges make the decisions. By applying statistical science to the analysis of available judicial decisions, Scott gives his clients a distinct edge when choosing legal strategies. Scott and his clients use this analysis to determine the tendencies of judges – such as how likely they are to grant summary judgment in certain types of cases, what kinds of evidence they find persuasive, and how long they take to render decisions – and put that information to work.

Scott’s article on PN Newswire: Salt Lake City attorney Scott Young examines the statistical odds of success in Ferguson Civil Court Lawsuit  has been widely circulated. Additionally,  at the Federal Bar Association’s 2015 Annual Convention, Scott gave an engaging discussion on the topic.  An abbreviated version of his PowerPoint Presentation: Moneyball takes the bench: A statistical analysis.

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Scott’s Podcast:

Mediating Civil Rights Cases Against Police Officers

Education

  • J.D., Columbia Law School, 2005
  • B.A., Claremont McKenna College, Economics and Accounting, 2001

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Utah State Bar
  • U.S. District Court, District of Utah
  • Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Wyoming State Bar

Scott is an established author for the Civil Rights Section of the Federal Bar Association.

  • Utah Criminal Jury Instruction Committee Member (2010 – Present)
  • Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter – Former President
  • Utah Bar Association – Former Chair, Constitutional Law Section
  • Teaches an LSAT (law school entrance exam) prep course at the University of Utah
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation
  • Recognized as a Utah Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers® Magazine for Civil Rights
  • Recognized as Utah Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine

Unique Recognition – Education

  • Law School: Columbia Law School, 2005
    • Parker School Award for Achievement in International and Comparative Law

Government and Civil Rights Defense

  • Obtained jury verdict for police officer. Excessive force case stemming from an officer- involved shooting.
  • Obtained summary judgment for a police officer and department. Excessive force case stemming from a police dog bite.
  • Obtained summary judgment (affirmed by Tenth Circuit) on due process and equal protection claims related to water rights.
  • Obtained summary judgment (affirmed by Tenth Circuit) on due process claims against state doctor.
  • Successfully represented minority high school student in discrimination claim against school district.

Commercial Litigation

  • Obtained judgment in bench trial for disaster clean-up company in claim for breach of contract and cross-claim for defective services.
  • Obtained judgment in bench trial for insurer seeking reimbursement for misuse of funds by employee.
  • Negotiated successful resolution to breach of contract claim against computer engineer related to design of a roller-coaster.

Insurance and Transportation Defense

  • Obtained summary judgment for laundry manufacturer in defective product claim.
  • Obtained directed verdict and judgment in bench trial for false arrest of shoplifter.
  • Successfully mediated claims and negotiated settlements for multiple large trucking companies.

Fluent in Italian