Matt Scott focuses his practice on representing public and private sector management in employment discrimination and civil rights lawsuits in federal and state court at both the district court and appellate court levels. He also routinely advises clients on day-to-day employment issues and assists with drafting and revising handbooks, policy and procedure manuals, employment and separation agreements, arbitration agreements, drug testing policies and procedures, and employment applications.
Matt is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He chairs the Fifth Circuit Labor & Employment Law Pattern Jury Charge Advisory Committee, which is responsible for drafting the pattern jury charges for use in employment discrimination cases tried in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Matt has authored numerous publications on employment law, civil rights law and litigation practices.
Matt currently serves as the senior member of the Rockwall City Council in Rockwall, Texas, and is an Ex Officio Director of the Rockwall Economic Development Corporation.
Recent Experience
· Obtained dismissal of ERISA lawsuit where claims were based on conversion of traditional defined benefit plan to cash balance defined benefit plan
· Obtained summary judgment for local employer in race discrimination case
· Successfully represented large health care provider in several race and sex discrimination cases
Recent Publications
· Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions-Civil, Thomson West (2009) (Reporter to the committee)
· "Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products: The Emperor Has No Clothes-Pretext Plus is Alive and Kicking," 37 ST. MARY'S L.J. 179 (2005)
· "Much Ado About Nothing-Why Desert Palace Neither Murdered McDonnell Douglas Nor Transformed All Employment Discrimination Cases to Mixed-Motive," 36 ST. MARY'S L.J. 395 (2005)
Honors and Awards
· "Texas Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics magazine
· One of the "Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40" by D Business Magazine
· "Texas Rising Star" by Texas Monthly Magazine
· AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
College of the State Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
(Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization)