AREAS OF PRACTICE

Scott Masterson is the managing partner of the Atlanta office, and focuses his practice on the  defense of manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and premises owners in toxic/mass tort and environmental litigation.  Mr. Masterson also has extensive experience representing corporations, common carriers, professionals, business owners, residential and commercial construction contractors, and municipalities.  Mr. Masterson is seasoned at handling clients’ needs from initial investigation through trial and appeal.  He also provides proactive solutions to clients and has assisted with the institution of measures aimed at reducing liability and exposure. 

• Admitted to the Bars of Georgia, West Virginia and Kentucky
• State Bar of Georgia
  • Board of Directors YLD, 2008 - 2010
  • Executive Committee YLD
  • Past Litigation Section Chair
• Atlanta Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
• DRI Substantive Liaison
• Member, Board of Directors of the Graduate Health Law Network
• Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)

Awards and Publications 

• "Providing Insurance Assistance to Victims of Hurricane Katrina," published in course materials and on the web
• "Dealing with Difficult Lawyers," DRI's For the Defense, November 2004
• State Bar of Georgia “Service to the Profession and YLD” Award
• State Bar of Georgia “Most Outstanding Committee,” YLD Litigation Committee
• Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2005, 2006, 2008 by Law and Politics and Atlanta Magazine

Speaking Engagements

• "The Role of Dose Assessment and Toxicology at Trial," Perrin Conference: Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation, February, 2010.
• "Emerging Medical and Scientific Issues in Asbestos Litigation,"  The Asbestos Litigation Conference: Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation 2010
• Panelist, "Use of Medical Experts in Asbestos Litigation," The Asbestos Litigation Conference: A Comprehensive National Overview and Outlook, 2009
• "Preparing the Defendant's Case for Trial," Trial and Error Seminar at the State Bar of Georgia, 2009
• "Premises Liability Litigation Update" for the Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation Conference, 2009
• "Katrina Relief: Lawyers Learning to Help the Displaced,” 2008 presentation on insurance issues at the CLE program
• “Preparing a Case for Trial,” State Bar of Georgia CLE presentation, 2006
• “Cross-Examining Fact Witnesses” State Bar of Georgia CLE Presentation 2006
• Presented on Georgia's 2005 Tort Reform to the Georgia State Bar Young Lawyers Division

LEGAL EXPERIENCE 

Mr. Masterson has successfully tried cases in several venues achieving defense verdicts and other favorable outcomes.  He has prepared and tried cases involving business disputes, premises liability, personal injury, municipal liability, civil rights, and products liability, including involvement in the trial of more than a thousand asbestos plaintiffs at once.  He has represented clients in more than 30 states.  He is currently active on steering committees in a number of jurisdictions that work to introduce and enact Case Management Orders geared to eliminate or reduce frivolous mass tort lawsuits and maintain order to dockets containing thousands of cases.

Mr. Masterson and his team work with clients to investigate and understand decades worth of history and information pertinent to current claims and litigation.  He provides 24-hour availability for the investigation of accidents, environmental spills and other events.  He represents product manufacturers, premises owners, and suppliers in the mass and toxic tort arena, both in individual actions and MDL and other class and consolidated litigation.  His experience includes the defense of asbestos, silica, benzene and other mixed solvents cases nationally.  He has handled individual products liability cases arising out of injuries claimed from the use of consumer products to industrial equipment.

Mr. Masterson handled the case of first impression in Georgia arising out of an individual’s release from incarceration based on DNA evidence.  He has presented to clients, industry groups and his peers on a number of topics related to trial, litigation and professional responsibility.

Education

• Georgia State University College of Law, cum laude, 2001
• The University of Georgia, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1998