R. Craig Scott
Practice Specialties

High-Profile Employment Representation

When handling employment litigation involving people or institutions in the public eye, the lead lawyer often plays the roles of white knight, public spokesperson, spinmeister, psychologist and counselor, political prognosticator and battle-plan tactitian.

With the skills and experience to perform admirably in all of those functions, Mr. Scott has handled some of Southern California's highest profile employment disputes.

These are just two examples:

• Represented the City of Newport Beach, California in a hotly-litigated sexual harassment and sex discrimination case brought by 14 female police officers and other city employees.   The case involved almost daily news coverage and 48 Hours put its spotlight on the litigation.   Mr. Scott skirted a death threat from a relative of one of the plaintiffs and brought the case to a very successful settlement.

• Represented the City Manager of an Orange County, California city who was first placed on administrative leave and then terminated by the city council.   Scott & Whitehead won a court-ordered reversal of the termination and then defended the City Manager against the city's lawsuit charging him with self-dealing and mismanagement.   Mr. Scott, himself a former mayor and long-time city council member in another city, was both attorney and public spokesperson for the City Manager.   Local newspapers and the County's two dailies gave frequent coverage to the city council meetings and the courtrooms where the disputes played out.   Mr. Scott negotiated a substantial settlement payment from the city to the firm's client.   This closely-watched case resulted in state-wide reforms in how public administrators receive and account for job-related benefits, administer compensation and benefits for subordinates, and apprise publicly-elected officials of their decisions and conduct.

Sensitive Investigations

Training