Scott A. Flinders

BIOGRAPHY

Scott A. Flinders is a partner practicing in the Firm’s litigation department where he focuses on personal injury defense, and defense of insurance first party and bad faith claims.

Scott received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Brigham Young University in 1995. Thereafter, he attended Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, Texas, earning his J.D. in 1998.

After taking and passing the Texas Bar, Scott moved with his family to Las Vegas. He is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in Nevada. Scott has represented clients in numerous trials, arbitrations, and mediations.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Outside of work, Scott loves spending time with his wife and three children. He enjoys sports, reading, and politics.

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

Scott has extensive litigation experience in both state and federal court and before arbitrators and mediators. He has also been very successful in resolving cases in favor of his clients through motion practice. Notable cases include:

• A one-week jury trial where the plaintiff claimed a traumatic brain injury where liability was adverse to his client. Scott was successful in significantly limiting the award of damages against his client to only $4,373.39. Ritley v. Carson, State Court Case No. A438198 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2003).
• A one-week trial involving allegations of products liability and negligence against his client, a major high reach equipment rental company, resulting in a judgment favorable to the client in the amount of approximately ten-percent of what the plaintiff demanded to settle before trial. Guy DePew v. Ahern Rentals, Inc., State Court Case No. CIV227292 (Superior Court of California, Ventura County, 2005).
• A personal injury claim which resulted in a one-week jury trial where the plaintiffs requested $2 million to settle their claims. Scott was successful in significantly limiting the award of damages against his client to less than ten-percent of what plaintiffs demanded. Patricia Fritch et al. v. American Baggage Company, State Court Case No A437159 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2005).
• A one-day jury trial where the plaintiff claimed Scott’s client improperly turned left in front of the plaintiff resulting in physical injuries. Scott was successful in defending against the claim with the jury finding that plaintiff’s negligence exceeded the negligence of his client therefore precluding any recovery. Serge Cooltschinski v. Katherine Derequito, State Court Case No. A623307 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2012).
• In Jesse Kalberer v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Federal Court Case No. 2:13-CV-2278 JCM(NJK) (Las Vegas, Nev. 2014), Scott secured summary judgment on behalf of American Family Mutual Insurance Company on the issues of whether his client acted in bad faith and breached the contract with its insured.
• An arbitration where the insured alleged the client breached the contract and acted in bad faith. The arbitrator agreed with Scott and subsequently found that the insured committed fraud and that the insurer properly voided the contract. Gooss v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, State Court Case No. A674986 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2015).
• A one-week jury trial in Reno, Nevada, where the plaintiff alleged the client had intentionally backed into him twice while he stood behind the client’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed he suffered serious injuries to his knees resulting in past and future medical bills of over $150,000. At trial, the plaintiff asked the jury to award him in excess of $300,000. The jury found the plaintiff 30% comparatively negligent and awarded him $20,000, which was reduced to $14,000. This amount was less than the client had offered to settle for before the trial. Bernard House v. Joseph Bower, State Court Case No. CV1301879 (Reno, Nev. 2015).
• In Alexandria Striegel v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Federal Court Case No. 2:13-CV-01338 GMN(VCF) (Las Vegas, Nev. 2015), Scott secured summary judgment on behalf of American Family Mutual Insurance Company on the issues of whether his client acted in bad faith and breached the contract with its insured.
• In Las Vegas Salon Five, LLC v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, State Court Case No. A687056 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2015), Scott secured summary judgment on behalf of American Family Mutual Insurance Company on the issues of whether his client acted in bad faith and breached the contract with its insured.
• In Michael Green v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Federal Court Case No. 2:15-CV-530 GMN(PAL) (Las Vegas, Nev. 2015), Scott secured summary judgment on behalf of American Family Mutual Insurance Company on the issues of whether his client acted in bad faith and breached the contract with its insured.
• In American Family Mutual Insurance Company v. Paul Taylor et al., Federal Court Case No. 2:14-CV-00934 GMN(GWF) (Las Vegas, Nev. 2015), the Court granted American Family Mutual Insurance Company’s motion for summary judgment on its declaratory relief action finding that it properly denied coverage under the insurance policy.
• In Angela Gutting v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Federal Court Case No. 2:15-CV-02216 GMN (CWH) (Las Vegas, Nev. 2017), Scott secured summary judgment on behalf of American Family Mutual Insurance Company on the issues of whether his client acted in bad faith and breached the contract with its insured.
• An arbitration where plaintiff claimed Scott’s client made an improper lane change resulting in a collision with plaintiff’s vehicle that caused him injury. Scott was successful in defending his client against plaintiff’s claim. The arbitrator found that plaintiff was 70% responsible for the accident and was therefore precluded from recovering any damages. Rodrigo Marques v. David Pappas, State Court Case No. A740102 (Las Vegas, Nev. 2017).