Practice Areas: Workers' Compensation, Transportation & Maritime, Personal Injury
Licensed in Alabama since: 1990
Education: The University of Alabama School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2010, 2021 - 2023 Burgess Roberts LLC
3618 Clairmont AveBirmingham, AL 35222 Phone: 205-795-3527 Email: Scott Roberts Visit website
Details
Scott Roberts is a co-founder and managing partner at Burgess Roberts LLC in Birmingham, Alabama.
For over 30 years, Mr. Roberts has represented a broad cross-section of individuals, insurance carriers, and businesses, primarily in tort, workers' compensation, and transportation litigation throughout the State of Alabama. He is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully tried many jury and non-jury cases. Mr. Roberts has also been the lead attorney in many published appellate decisions.
Mr. Roberts frequently provides practical, reasoned advice and counsel to claims representatives, in-house lawyers, and business professionals on best practices and strategies to solve challenging legal issues with a view toward minimizing or preventing legal difficulties. If litigation cannot be avoided, Mr. Roberts provides experienced, aggressive advocacy.
Mr. Roberts is a regular speaker at seminars, conferences, and on broadcast media, discussing the latest legal developments and trends for proactive risk management to identify and eliminate legal liabilities before they occur.
Mr. Roberts earned his undergraduate degree in 1987 from Auburn University and his law degree in 1990 from The University of Alabama School of Law.
Honored for his exceptional client service and outstanding professionalism, Mr. Roberts has held the prestigious “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 years. He has been selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers and the 2022 edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers. For 25 years, he has appeared in Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys. Mr. Roberts has also maintained many other top rankings, such as the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and B-Metro’s Top Attorneys.
First Admitted: 1990, Alabama
Professional Webpage: http://burgessroberts.com/scott-m-roberts/
Special Licenses/Certifications:
Educational Background:
- Auburn University; BA,, 1987
- University of Alabama School of law; JD, 1990
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Discussed emerging trends and case law for disclosure of third-party litigation funding and potential for increase in speculative lawsuits due to prosecuting partie's obligation to fully repay principal loan in addition to high interest rates and funding fees., Guest, Disclosure of Third-Party Funding in Litigation , SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Insurance Round Table , Transportation, Corporate, Insurance, And Legal, 2022
- Discussion of Alabama's progress to create infrastructure to implement 2021 medical marijuana statute, the new law's interaction with drug-free workplace policies, and impact on the intoxication defense under the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act, Speaker , Alabama's New Medical Marijuana Law and its Potential Effect in the Work Place, Alabama Workers' Compensation Association Seminar for Insurance Professionals, Corporate, Insurance, And Legal, 2022
- Discussed driver shortages resulting in trucking companies hiring less experienced drivers and increase in litigation for negligent hiring, training, and supervision claims arising out of motor vehicle accidents., Guest, The Shortage of Qualified Drivers and the Rise of Negligent Hiring, Training and Entrustment Lawsuits Against Trucking Companies , SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Insurance Round Table , Transportation, 2022
- In-depth discussion of Alabama's recent legalization of medical marijuana and the statute's affect on workers’ compensation claims, Speaker, Alabama's Legalization of Medical Marijuana, Alabama Workers' Compensation Organization's Seminar for Insurance Professionals, Business, Insurance, And Legal, 2021
- Discussed status of Alabama legislature's consideration of legalizing medical marijuana and different ways realization will affect Alabama workers’ compensation claims, Speaker , Weed in the Worplace and its Impact on Drug Free Work Place Policies and Alabama's Intoxication Defense , Alabama Workers' Compensation Organization's Annual Continuing Education Seminar for Insurance Professionals, Business, Insurance, And Legal, 2020
- Discussed rise in multi-million dollar jury awards against trucking companies and truckers in motor vehicle accident litigation., Guest, Nuclear Verdicts in Transportation Litigation , SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Insurance Round Table , Transportation, 2019
- Discussion of issues with state and federal laws on tort reform and the potential impact on the transportation industry, Guest, Tort Reform and the Transportation Industry, SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Insurance Round Table , Transportation, 2019
- Discussed best practices and recommended different types of investigations to evaluate legitimacy of injured worker's alleged permanent disabilities and restrictions, Speaker, Social Media Investigation in Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Claims, Alabama Workers' Compensation Association's Annual Congerence for Adjusters, Business, Insurance, And Legal, 2019
- Spoke at annual seminar for adjusters and employers about the potential impact of legalized medical marijuana in on-the-job injury claims, Speaker, The impact of marijuana in workers’ compensation, Alabama Workers' Compensation Association, Employment, Workers' Compensation, 2019
- The rise and lawsuits against trucking companies caused by third-party financing of plaintiff's litigation fees and costs, Guest, The Correlation Between Litigation Funding Companies and the Increase in Transportation Litigation , SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Insurance Round Table , Transportation, 2018
- Recommended best practices for investigating on the job injury claims and claims professional's legal obligation to timely pay medical and indemnity benefits in claims deemed compensable., Speaker, The Tort of Outrage in Workers’ Compensation Claim Handling in Alabama, Alabama Workers' Compensation Organization's Annual Seminar for Adjusters, Business, Insurance, And Legal, 2018
- Spoke at annual seminar for adjusters and employers on the impact of medical marijuana in the workplace, Speaker, Medical marijuana in the workplace, Alabama Workers' Compensation Association, Workers' Compensation, 2018
- Ethical Issues in Claims Investigations, including timely investigation of work-related injuries, and obligation to pay indemnity and medical benefits in compensable claims , Speaker, Ethical Issues in Claims Investigations, Alabama Workers' Compensation Association Seminar, Employment, Insuarance And Legal., 2017
- Presentation included complications and potential for permanent disabilities when older workers suffer traumatic brain injuries and claims professionals obligation to provide indemnity and medical benefits in compensable claims., Speaker, Traumatic Brain Injuries and the Older Worker, Workers' Compensation Association's Annual Seminar for Adjuster's Continuing Education, Business, Insurance And Legal, 2017
Videos:
- Presentation at 2022 Alabama Workers' Compensation Organization seminar for employers, insuranceadjusters, risk managers, and third-party administrators., Legalized marijuana and it’s effect on the workplace, Corporations, Risk Management, Insurance Carriers, Construction, Manufacturers, And Employers, 2022
- Discussed state and federal status of legalized marijuana and its impact in on-the-job injuries and workers’ compensation litigation, THC, CBD and the Alabama Law, Employment, Workers' Compensation, Risk Management, And Insurance., 2021
Honors/Awards:
- Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards Reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary., AV Preeminent Attorney - Judicial Edition, Martindale-Hubbell , 2023
- Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards., AV Preeminent Attorney , Martindale-Hubbell , 2023
- Qualified Member for 25 years recommended by insurance company claims departments, third-party administrators, and claims divisions of self-insurers., Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, AM Best, 2023
- The Bar Register has been a unique guide to the legal community's most eminent professionals for over 100 years. , Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubell, 2023
- Voted by peers as a top attorney in Birmingham, B Metro Top Attorneys, Birmingham Metro Magazine, 2022
- Manage HR Magazine's evaluation selected Burgess Roberts as one of the 'Top 10 Emerging Employment Law Firm 2022', Top Employment Law Firm 2022, Manage HR Magazine , 2022
- , Top Rated Workers' Compensation Attorney in Birmingham, Alabama, Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2022
- Nominated by peers as top workers’ compensation attorney in Birmingham. , Expertise Top Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Birmingham, Expertise, 2022
- Nominated by peers as a top attorney in Birmingham. , B Metro Top Attorneys, Birmingham Metro Magazine, 2021
Representative Clients:
- Addus Healthcare, AIG Insurance, APi Group, Burlington Coat Factory, Carolina Casualty Insurance Company, CCMSI, Cincinnati Insurance Company, CorVel Corp, CVS, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Drury Hotels, Employers Insurance Group, ESIS, FirstGroup America, Friedkin Companies, Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., Great West Casualty Company, Greyhound Lines, Inc., Healthcare Workers' Compensation Fund, Koch Foods, LBrands, Liberty Mutual, Magna International, Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Michaels Stores, PrideStaff, Quality Staffing, Sedgwick, Sizemore, Starbucks Coffee Company, Steel Technologies, Temp Force, and US Auto Logistics, 2023
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Favorable settlement for trucking company and driver in motor vehicle accident with catastrophic injuries and potential exposure in excess of $5 million, 2023
- Favorable settlement for engineering company that manufactured an allegedly defective machine used in the foundry industry that caused gruesome crush and burn injuries when a worker's hand and wrist were trapped between two sides of a hot box heated to 530°F., 2022
- Successfully defended an international auto parts manufacturer in a lawsuit arising out of an industrial accident with catastrophic injuries, including permanent blindness., 2022
- Obtained summary judgment for supervisory employee accused of willful conduct and failure to repair safety devices allegedly causing significant permanent injuries and damages to a coworker, 2022
- Favorable settlement for transportation company and driver in a high exposure case arising out of a rear-end motor vehicle accident causing significant personal injuries to three occupants in the other vehicle, 2021
- Obtained early dismissal of lawsuit against premises owner accused of negligent and wanton conduct for the alleged failure to safeguard guests and employees from physical and sexual assaults by third-party trespassers, 2021
- Favorable settlement in wrongful death lawsuit against adult daycare accused of negligently and wantonly failing to supervise program participants, 2020
- Obtained summary judgment for international auto parts manufacturer in lawsuit seeking significant compensatory and punitive damages for an alleged retaliatory discharge, 2020
- Obtained early dismissal of lawsuit on the merits for international automotive technology company accused of negligent and wanton conduct that allegedly caused catastrophic physical injuries and mental anguish, 2020
- Settlement favorable to client in a high exposure tractor-trailer accident case, 2020
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Alabama State Bar; Birmingham Bar Association (including Workers’ Compensation Section); Tennessee Bar Association; American Bar Association (including Workers’ Compensation Law and Commercial Transportation Litigation subcommittees); , 2023
Industry Groups:
- and Appellate
- Automotive
- Distribution
- Employment And Labor
- Food & Beverage
- Health Care
- Industrial
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Retail & Hospitality
- Transportation
Office location for Scott Roberts
3618 Clairmont Ave
Birmingham, AL 35222
Selections
5 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2010, 2021 - 2023