Professional Experience

Oregon personal injury defense and commercial litigation 

Scott Brooksby is an Oregon personal injury defense and commercial litigation attorney. For over two decades, Scott has devoted himself to various forms of complex litigation in the defense of businesses, manufacturers, distributors, and organizations.  Scott is an experienced jury trial lawyer who has tried cases throughout the state of Oregon.

In cases that do not necessitate a trial, Scott is a skilled negotiator who has resolved hundreds of cases through arbitration and mediation. He has successfully argued many motions that resulted in the dismissal of claims, or outright dismissal of his client.  

To help his clients avoid litigation, Scott provides on-call assistance and counseling for the prevention of litigation. 

Scott regularly assists his clients with the authoring of current manuals and handbooks, safety protocols and best practices, and document preservation. Scott also gives management presentations and employee trainings on request.

Oregon product liability law

Scott is one of the leading product liability lawyers in Oregon. His experience includes cases involving hundreds of different kinds of products. He has defended and counseled product manufacturers and distributors in a variety of industries, including: aviation, drugs and medical devices, toys and recreational products, paints and solvents, power tools, heavy equipment and machinery, retail, food, consumer products, and automobiles.  Before opening his own firm, Scott served as the former co-chair of a large West Coast law firm's product liability practice group.

Scott's experience defending against product liability attacks ranges from small defective product claims to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving punitive damages. He has experience with medical treatment issues that result from falls, burns, and amputation injuries in manufacturing facilities.

Scott has provided representation for a wide variety of product claims involving electrical and gas powered consumer products, large fire loss claims, mobile and industrial equipment, airplanes, elevators, and medical devices. Scott also has experience handling product recalls and modifications.

He is an Oregon Super Lawyer for product liability defense and he is listed in Best Lawyers in America© for product liability litigation.

He advises Olson Brooksby's clients concerning media relations, product labeling, product warnings, product recalls, instructions and instruction manuals, compliance issues, and comprehensive risk assessments.

Scott also has extensive experience with product regulation issues involving the CPSC and the NTSB.

Oregon aviation law

As one of the few lawyers in Oregon with significant aviation litigation experience, Scott has litigated helicopter and plane crash cases, as well as aviation component part product liability claims. Scott was co-counsel on a team that defended a large aviation product manufacturer in a months-long trial.

Accomplishments

Litigation, including Aviation and Product Liability DEFENSE

  • Represented an international toy company in a fire allegedly originating from the battery charger in a toy car.
  • Co-tried a nine-week product liability helicopter crash case for one of the largest aviation manufacturers in the world.
  • Represented a helicopter manufacturer in a lawsuit arising from a heli-logging accident and achieved a favorable result.
  • Represented a Spanish health equipment manufacturing conglomerate in a serious brain injury case to a favorable resolution.
  • Represented a national retail chain in a personal injury case where an unsupervised toddler fell two stories down an escalator shaft.
  • Represented a manufacturer and distributor in a high-profile product liability case with national exposure involving a child who ingested a piece of toy jewelry made of lead. The child allegedly sustained brain damage. Scott also advised the client on media management and shaping the case for successful resolution through pretrial motions. The case was resolved through a settlement.
  • Represented a major national retail fabric store chain in a premises liability action where the plaintiff was severely injured after falling on the premises. After a jury trial in U.S. District Court, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Scott’s client, the defendant retailer.
  • Defended a major international manufacturer of inflatable aquatic recreational products in a six-day jury trial involving alleged product defects, as well as a claim for millions of dollars in damages. The case was favorably resolved during jury deliberations.
  • Represented a beverage distributor and its truck driver employee in a jury trial where the plaintiff suffered serious spinal injuries. In an admitted liability trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff a fraction of the requested damages.
  • Represented a national public utility company in a catastrophic accident case in which three men were killed and another seriously injured. The case was resolved during an early mediation.
  • Represented a worldwide manufacturer of high-voltage utility equipment in an electrocution case based on product liability and negligence theories. The trial court granted summary judgment for the manufacturer based on the statute of ultimate repose.
  • Represented a worldwide beverage manufacturer in a case alleging food contamination. The case was resolved before trial while legal motions were pending.
  • Represented one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and orthopaedic implant manufacturers in several cases involving allegations of millions of dollars in damages due to allegedly defectively designed or manufactured medical devices. The cases were resolved through early alternative dispute resolution.
  • Defended a restaurant against a lawsuit alleging serious crush injuries to a blind man who fell head first into an open and unguarded sidewalk elevator shaft in front of a restaurant used for deliveries. The steel doors that lifted from the sidewalk exposing the shaft slammed shut on the plaintiff as he fell, suspending him in mid-air and crushing his legs.
  • Co-defended an investment company accused of wrongfully assisting a software company’s misappropriation of trade secrets valued at $24 million. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Co-defended a biotechnology company in a case alleging patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets. The case settled the day before trial for an eight figure cash settlement and other favorable remedies.

Scott has experience with many product liability cases, including:

  • Aviation, aircraft and their component parts.
  • Mass torts.
  • Paints, solvents, coatings, detergents, and pesticides, including benzene and toluene cases which resulted in liver and kidney transplants.
  • Toys and recreational products, including paint ball guns, toys containing battery fire hazards, pogo sticks, pools, lead toys imported from India that were swallowed by children, toys allegedly containing lead paint, and inflatable and other recreational towables pulled behind boats.
  • Tempered glass and conventional glass.
  • Foreign objects or other alleged dangerous defects in food and drink products and packaging.
  • Drug and medical device cases, including fraudulent vitamins and device replacements for hips, knees, ray cages and pedicle screws.
  • Home appliance cases involving allegedly defective washers, dryers, stoves, heaters and heating equipment, green technology, and water heaters.
  • Chemicals that resulted in a fatal automobile fire, burning a family of five, including fatal burns to two children.

Outside General Counsel and Risk Management Consulting Services

  • Served as outside national coordinating counsel to a Northwest-based manufacturer of heating equipment. Advised on all matters, including product liability, employment, insurance, business, trademark, contract analysis and negotiation, environmental, toxic tort, operations, and risk management best practices. Supervised outside local counsel and coordinated multi-state litigation and strategy.
  • Served as outside general counsel to a national membership warehouse club regarding contractual provisions concerning vendors. Analyzed and negotiated contracts concerning indemnity and alternative dispute resolution clauses.
  • Served as outside general counsel to one of the largest restaurant franchise owners in the country regarding all issues, including environmental regulation, contracts (including franchisee as well as licensing and separation agreements), and employment matters.
  • Served as an advisor to the western U.S. region of multiple worldwide religious organizations on issues related to internal employment practices and best practices for investigating potential tort claims, working with governmental agencies, and mandatory child abuse reporting obligations.

Articles & Presentations

 

Professional Experience

Oregon personal injury defense and commercial litigation 

Scott Brooksby is an Oregon personal injury defense and commercial litigation attorney. For over two decades, Scott has devoted himself to various forms of complex litigation in the defense of businesses, manufacturers, distributors, and organizations.  Scott is an experienced jury trial lawyer who has tried cases throughout the state of Oregon.

In cases that do not necessitate a trial, Scott is a skilled negotiator who has resolved hundreds of cases through arbitration and mediation. He has successfully argued many motions that resulted in the dismissal of claims, or outright dismissal of his client.  

To help his clients avoid litigation, Scott provides on-call assistance and counseling for the prevention of litigation. 

Scott regularly assists his clients with the authoring of current manuals and handbooks, safety protocols and best practices, and document preservation. Scott also gives management presentations and employee trainings on request.

Oregon product liability law

Scott is one of the leading product liability lawyers in Oregon. His experience includes cases involving hundreds of different kinds of products. He has defended and counseled product manufacturers and distributors in a variety of industries, including: aviation, drugs and medical devices, toys and recreational products, paints and solvents, power tools, heavy equipment and machinery, retail, food, consumer products, and automobiles.  Before opening his own firm, Scott served as the former co-chair of a large West Coast law firm's product liability practice group.

Scott's experience defending against product liability attacks ranges from small defective product claims to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving punitive damages. He has experience with medical treatment issues that result from falls, burns, and amputation injuries in manufacturing facilities.

Scott has provided representation for a wide variety of product claims involving electrical and gas powered consumer products, large fire loss claims, mobile and industrial equipment, airplanes, elevators, and medical devices. Scott also has experience handling product recalls and modifications.

He is an Oregon Super Lawyer for product liability defense and he is listed in Best Lawyers in America© for product liability litigation.

He advises Olson Brooksby's clients concerning media relations, product labeling, product warnings, product recalls, instructions and instruction manuals, compliance issues, and comprehensive risk assessments.

Scott also has extensive experience with product regulation issues involving the CPSC and the NTSB.

Oregon aviation law

As one of the few lawyers in Oregon with significant aviation litigation experience, Scott has litigated helicopter and plane crash cases, as well as aviation component part product liability claims. Scott was co-counsel on a team that defended a large aviation product manufacturer in a months-long trial.

Accomplishments

Litigation, including Aviation and Product Liability DEFENSE

  • Represented an international toy company in a fire allegedly originating from the battery charger in a toy car.
  • Co-tried a nine-week product liability helicopter crash case for one of the largest aviation manufacturers in the world.
  • Represented a helicopter manufacturer in a lawsuit arising from a heli-logging accident and achieved a favorable result.
  • Represented a Spanish health equipment manufacturing conglomerate in a serious brain injury case to a favorable resolution.
  • Represented a national retail chain in a personal injury case where an unsupervised toddler fell two stories down an escalator shaft.
  • Represented a manufacturer and distributor in a high-profile product liability case with national exposure involving a child who ingested a piece of toy jewelry made of lead. The child allegedly sustained brain damage. Scott also advised the client on media management and shaping the case for successful resolution through pretrial motions. The case was resolved through a settlement.
  • Represented a major national retail fabric store chain in a premises liability action where the plaintiff was severely injured after falling on the premises. After a jury trial in U.S. District Court, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Scott’s client, the defendant retailer.
  • Defended a major international manufacturer of inflatable aquatic recreational products in a six-day jury trial involving alleged product defects, as well as a claim for millions of dollars in damages. The case was favorably resolved during jury deliberations.
  • Represented a beverage distributor and its truck driver employee in a jury trial where the plaintiff suffered serious spinal injuries. In an admitted liability trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff a fraction of the requested damages.
  • Represented a national public utility company in a catastrophic accident case in which three men were killed and another seriously injured. The case was resolved during an early mediation.
  • Represented a worldwide manufacturer of high-voltage utility equipment in an electrocution case based on product liability and negligence theories. The trial court granted summary judgment for the manufacturer based on the statute of ultimate repose.
  • Represented a worldwide beverage manufacturer in a case alleging food contamination. The case was resolved before trial while legal motions were pending.
  • Represented one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and orthopaedic implant manufacturers in several cases involving allegations of millions of dollars in damages due to allegedly defectively designed or manufactured medical devices. The cases were resolved through early alternative dispute resolution.
  • Defended a restaurant against a lawsuit alleging serious crush injuries to a blind man who fell head first into an open and unguarded sidewalk elevator shaft in front of a restaurant used for deliveries. The steel doors that lifted from the sidewalk exposing the shaft slammed shut on the plaintiff as he fell, suspending him in mid-air and crushing his legs.
  • Co-defended an investment company accused of wrongfully assisting a software company’s misappropriation of trade secrets valued at $24 million. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Co-defended a biotechnology company in a case alleging patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets. The case settled the day before trial for an eight figure cash settlement and other favorable remedies.

Scott has experience with many product liability cases, including:

  • Aviation, aircraft and their component parts.
  • Mass torts.
  • Paints, solvents, coatings, detergents, and pesticides, including benzene and toluene cases which resulted in liver and kidney transplants.
  • Toys and recreational products, including paint ball guns, toys containing battery fire hazards, pogo sticks, pools, lead toys imported from India that were swallowed by children, toys allegedly containing lead paint, and inflatable and other recreational towables pulled behind boats.
  • Tempered glass and conventional glass.
  • Foreign objects or other alleged dangerous defects in food and drink products and packaging.
  • Drug and medical device cases, including fraudulent vitamins and device replacements for hips, knees, ray cages and pedicle screws.
  • Home appliance cases involving allegedly defective washers, dryers, stoves, heaters and heating equipment, green technology, and water heaters.
  • Chemicals that resulted in a fatal automobile fire, burning a family of five, including fatal burns to two children.

Outside General Counsel and Risk Management Consulting Services

  • Served as outside national coordinating counsel to a Northwest-based manufacturer of heating equipment. Advised on all matters, including product liability, employment, insurance, business, trademark, contract analysis and negotiation, environmental, toxic tort, operations, and risk management best practices. Supervised outside local counsel and coordinated multi-state litigation and strategy.
  • Served as outside general counsel to a national membership warehouse club regarding contractual provisions concerning vendors. Analyzed and negotiated contracts concerning indemnity and alternative dispute resolution clauses.
  • Served as outside general counsel to one of the largest restaurant franchise owners in the country regarding all issues, including environmental regulation, contracts (including franchisee as well as licensing and separation agreements), and employment matters.
  • Served as an advisor to the western U.S. region of multiple worldwide religious organizations on issues related to internal employment practices and best practices for investigating potential tort claims, working with governmental agencies, and mandatory child abuse reporting obligations.

Articles & Presentations