Scott W. Self

About Scott

EXPERIENCE

As a partner with the firm, Scott Self has represented companies and individuals in state and federal courts throughout the state of Texas. In recent years, Scott has represented clients in a variety of matters regarding claims of premises liability, products liability, transportation liability, consumer and DTPA liability, insurance bad faith liability, intentional tort and commercial disputes.

Since becoming licensed in 2001, Scott has vigorously and professionally defended clients in hundreds of high-exposure cases involving fatalities and/or serious bodily injuries in the context of:

• Products liability incidents, including children’s products, fires, water intrusion, and electrocution.
• Trucking and heavy equipment accidents.
• Summer camp, amusement park, stadium, motor sports, boating, playground, and other recreational accidents.
• Construction site accidents.
• Premises liability incidents, including serious criminal incidents on business premises.

Scott is committed to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients in all aspects of his legal practice, from evaluating a case in its incipiency, to crafting thoughtful legal strategies, developing evidence through witnesses and documents, authoring effective pretrial motions, and defending his clients with character and charisma at trial.

Outside his legal practice, Scott is committed to a number of volunteer activities within the legal community, including working on pro bono cases with ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation), a faith-based organization that equips people in Dallas communities to fight crime on their streets using the justice system, and serving as a volunteer judge for numerous high school and college mock trial and moot court competitions throughout North Texas.

In recognition of his accomplishments in the practice of law and his volunteer work, the publishers of Texas Monthly and Texas Lawyer magazines named Scott a Super Lawyer, an honor conferred on less than 5% of the attorneys in the state of Texas, in 2013-2023. Scott was previously named as a Rising Star, an honor an honor conferred on less than 5% of the attorneys in the state of Texas under the age of 40, in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Additionally, in 2018 and 2020, Scott was named by the publishers of D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas.

Scott is a member of the Dallas chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national organization of elite trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Since 2018, Scott has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of personal injury trial law.

Scott is married to Aryn Stapp Self, a commercial real estate attorney and shareholder with the firm of Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr, P.C. They have three children. The Self family are active members of Watermark Community Church, where Scott serves in the children’s ministry. Scott also serves as a member of the board of directors for Sky Ranch Christian Camp & Conference Center and counsels with a number of faith-based organizations on issues involving liability, risk management, and religious liberties.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Robert Beak v. OMK Investments, Inc. d/b/a H&W Powersports of Palestine. Scott and associate John Wilder obtained a defense verdict for their client in Anderson County, Texas, in a case involving allegations of negligence against powersports dealer H&W. The plaintiff was badly injured while test-driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the dealership premises. He alleged that the dealership was negligent by not adequately warning him about the hazards of operating the ATV and by not providing him with adequate space in which to test-drive the ATV. Plaintiff suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula, which required him to undergo multiple surgical procedures. Scott and John demonstrated to the jury that the accident was caused not by any negligence on the part of H&W, but by the comparative negligence of Plaintiff himself. After a week of trial, the jury rendered a defense verdict for H&W.
• Shelton v. Graco Products, Inc., et al. Scott and Graco’s national trial counsel obtained a defense verdict for Graco in a trial in state court in Shelby County, Texas, in a case involving allegations of a product defect in a booster seat. The plaintiff mother and the injured minor were involved in a severe car accident. The injured minor was seated in a Graco belt-positioning booster seat. Plaintiffs alleged that the booster seat was defectively designed and marketed. Plaintiffs further alleged that the injured minor sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of the accident and asked the jury to award damages in excess of $20 million. Scott and Graco’s national trial counsel demonstrated to the jury that the booster seat was not defective and was compliant with the applicable federal standard for booster seats. After a two weeks of trial, the jury rendered a defense verdict for Graco.
• Crump v. MCMC Auto, Ltd. Scott and partner William Toles obtained a defense verdict for their client in a trial in state court in Tarrant County, Texas, in a case involving allegations of car dealer negligence. The plaintiff, a pedestrian who was filling her SUV with gas, was struck by a car that their client had sold approximately 3½ months before the accident. The car’s owner and her boyfriend, who was driving the vehicle when it struck the plaintiff, alleged that the car’s brakes failed. The plaintiff suffered a number of severe injuries and had medical bills of $491,000 as a result of the accident. The plaintiff alleged that their client failed to inspect and service the car properly before selling it and therefore asked the jury to award damages in excess of $6 million. William Toles and Scott Self showed the jury that the accident was caused by the negligence of the car’s owner and driver, rather than by their client. After a week of trial, the Tarrant County jury rendered a defense verdict for Scott and William’s client.
• Lennon II Family Limited Partnership v. AGL Constructors, Joint Venture, et al. Scott and senior associate Kelly Walker obtained a defense verdict for their client in a trial in state court in Denton County, Texas, involving complex environmental issues. The plaintiff, which owns real property in Denton County, claimed that Defendant, a heavy civil contractor, had unlawfully removed fill dirt from the plaintiff’s property and dumped contaminants onto the property. The plaintiff demanded more than $13 million before trial and asked the jury to award damages in excess of $8 million during trial. Self and Walker showed the jury that their client had lawfully purchased the fill dirt from the landowner’s agent and had brought non-hazardous and commercially useful replacement material back to the property. After two weeks of trial, the Denton County jury rendered a unanimous defense verdict for Scott and Kelly’s client.
• David Gray, et al. v. North Texas Premier Soccer Association, et al. Scott and associate Randall Miller obtained a defense verdict at trial in Dallas County, Texas, on behalf of their clients—a non-profit soccer organization, its officers, and directors—in a lawsuit in which the plaintiff injured his knee while playing in an adult recreational soccer game on a field owned and operated by the association. The plaintiffs alleged premises liability and gross negligence against the non-profit organization, as well as breach of fiduciary duty and fraud against its officers and directors. Scott and Randall successfully argued for dismissal of the breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims before the case went to the jury, which ultimately returned a unanimous defense verdict on the premises liability and gross negligence claims.
• Monica Cooper, et al. v.  Pantego Camp Thurman, Inc.  Scott obtained a defense verdict at trial in Tarrant County, Texas, on behalf of his Christian camp client in a wrongful death lawsuit involving an incident in which the decedent trespassed onto the camp’s premises and fell from a high ropes course element.
• Anselme Nzirubusa, et al. v. Bobby Joe Raymond and Dee King Trucking, Inc. Scott and associate Meg Johnson obtained a defense verdict at trial in Potter County, Texas, on behalf of their truck driver and trucking company clients in a wrongful death lawsuit involving an accident in which the truck collided with the decedent’s car.
• Sunny Garren, et al. v. Ray Anthony Cunningham and Greyhound Lines, Inc. Scott and associate Jason Burris obtained summary judgment in Dallas County, Texas, on behalf of their bus driver and bus company clients in a personal injury lawsuit involving an incident in which a passenger attacked the driver and caused the bus to run off the road.
• Lawrence Gertie v. Greyhound Lines, Inc., et al. Scott obtained summary judgment in Dallas County, Texas, on behalf of on behalf of his bus driver and bus company clients in a personal injury lawsuit involving an incident in which a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer collided with the bus at a railroad crossing.
• Farouq Alomari, et al. v. Ameristar Apartment Services, LP, et al. Scott obtained summary judgment in Tarrant County, Texas, on behalf of his window maintenance contractor client in a personal injury lawsuit involving an accident in which the plaintiff’s minor child pushed through a window screen and fell from a third story window.
• Newton, et al. v. Next Level Ballers, et al. Obtained summary judgment in the federal Northern District of Texas-Dallas Division on behalf of basketball promoter clients in a wrongful death lawsuit in which the decedent collapsed and died during a youth basketball tournament organized and promoted by clients.
• Zarate v. Thomas & Betts, et al. Obtained summary judgment in Tarrant County, Texas, on behalf of products manufacturer clients in a wrongful death lawsuit in which the decedent was electrocuted when he came into contact with electrical service entrance equipment that was allegedly manufactured and sold by clients
• Brunson v. Disciples Crossing. Scott obtained summary judgment in Henderson County, Texas, on behalf of campground client in a personal injury lawsuit in which the decedent fell and seriously injured his knee after tripping on a pet dog owned by the director of client. Scott also successfully argued before the Tyler Court of Appeals to uphold the summary judgment.
• Wikert v. Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, et al. Scott obtained summary judgment in Dallas County, Texas, on behalf of classic car enthusiast’s organization client in a commercial lawsuit in which the Plaintiff claimed ownership of a Chip Foose-designed 1970 Dodge Challenger that client had previously purchased and given away in its national car giveaway contest.
• Nguyen v. Sonju and Frisco Roughriders, Scott obtained a defense verdict at trial in Collin County, Texas, on behalf of minor league baseball club client in a personal injury lawsuit involving an automobile accident in which the general manager’s SUV came into contact with the Plaintiff’s minivan.
• Berry, et al. v. Timberline Baptist Camp, et al. Scott obtained summary judgment in Smith County, Texas, on behalf of campground client in a sexual misconduct lawsuit in which two counselors (one a minor) of a Co-Defendant organization engaged in sexual misconduct while on the premises of the firm’s client.
• Sorensen v. FedEx Kinko’s Office and Print Services, Inc. Scott obtained summary judgment in the federal Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, on behalf of employer client in an employment discrimination lawsuit in which the Plaintiff alleged that she had been wrongfully terminated by the client.
• Berry v. Winburn, Inc. d/b/a Gym Kids. Scott obtained a defense verdict at trial in Denton County, Texas, on behalf of gymnastics facility client in a personal injury lawsuit involving an accident in which the Plaintiff seriously injured his back while using a trampoline apparatus at the client’s facility.
• Reed, et al. v. Longview Baptist Temple, et al. Scott and partner Mike Sharp obtained a defense verdict at trial in Gregg County, Texas, on behalf of church client in a wrongful death lawsuit involving an automobile accident in which the decedent’s motorcycle collided with the client’s church bus.