Scott Voelz represents clients in a diverse array of cases in class and mass actions on labor and employment matters, as well as property damage, consumer class actions, and product liability claims. He brings extensive trial experience in federal and state courts, complemented by his adept handling of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forums.
For his client successes, Scott has been recognized as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Los Angeles Magazine, a “Life Sciences Star” for Product Liability by LMG Life Sciences, a Benchmark Litigation “Local and California Star” for General Commercial, Insurance, and Product Liability, and was recommended by Legal 500 US for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Automotive/Transport.
With over 30 years of experience, Scott is a trusted advisor to companies in the logistics and transportation spaces in matters arising from allegations of independent contractor/employee misclassification and joint employment issues, notably serving as a longtime national counsel for a major pickup and delivery company on misclassification matters. He is currently national counsel for a major retailer in litigation over the company’s on demand “gig” pickup and delivery platform, and represents and advises several other clients in the space. His experience also extends to representing major entertainment studios and publishers in intellectual property and antitrust matters, and consumer companies in class action and product liability matters.
- Labor & Employment
- Representing a major retailer with regard to its on-demand delivery program in class, individual and regulatory claims alleging employment misclassification and other claims
- Representing a major package delivery company in multiple class actions involving allegations of joint employment of service provider drivers
- Represented a major transportation and logistics company in multiple class actions of employment misclassification of owner-operators
- Represented a major package delivery company in more than 50 related class and individual actions in federal and state courts concerning disputes with pick-up and delivery contractors over employment classification
- Represented a pickup and delivery company in a regulatory action involving employment misclassification claims
- Represented a package pickup and delivery company in connection with a Department of Labor investigation into employment classification practices
- Represented a major transportation and logistics company in multiple class actions alleging employment misclassification of owner-operators involved in intermodal trucking
- Represented a major retailer in investigation into compliance with “gig” worker ordinances in Seattle, Washington
- Represented a major transportation and logistics company in an NLRB proceeding
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
- Represented a real estate brokerage company in putative class action involving alleged TCPA violations
- Represented a delivery services company in putative nationwide class action involving alleged violations of the TCPA connected with home delivery services
- Represented a pharmacy services provider in putative nationwide class alleging violations of the TCPA involving nursing home residents
- Represented specialty pharmacy provider in putative nationwide class alleging violations of the TCPA
- Represented an educational supply store chain over alleged violations of the TCPA
- Commercial Litigation
- Represented a major hotel chain in defense of California Business & Professions Code Section 17200 claims regarding its vacation packages
- Represented a multinational mass media corporation in a contract dispute with licensor over proper accounting of licensing royalties
- Represented a multinational entertainment company in a contract and fraud dispute over a property in Inglewood, California
- Represented a major film corporation in a breach of contract, Lanham Act and copyright infringement action arising from the marketing and production of a syndicated television series
- Represented a global leader in aviation leasing regarding breach of contract and warranty claims
- Represented major chemical company in property damage class actions in federal and state court in South Carolina
- Represented a global security and aerospace company in contract disputes with a government agency over the construction and management of toll roads in Orange County, California
- Represented a communications company in defense of a securities action which sought to prevent a multi-billion-dollar debt offering
- Represented a sports company in a lease dispute over the operation of a golf course in Santa Barbara, California
- Represented a school district in several major construction contract disputes
- Represented a school district in a contract dispute regarding the construction of a new $100 million high school campus
- Represented royalty owners in oil and gas lease disputes with an American multinational energy corporation.
- Represented a major pharmaceutical company in product liability litigation involving a surgical mesh product
- Represented several current and former welding electrode manufacturers in mass and individual product liability actions in state and federal courts alleging neurological injury from manganese exposure
- Represented a healthcare company in product liability actions involving a prescription drug in numerous federal and state courts
- Represented a major pharmaceutical in product liability actions involving a prescription drug in several state and federal courts
- Represented a major pharmaceutical company in wrongful death suits involving a prescription drug in federal and state courts
- Represented a social media company in a wrongful death action allegedly caused by one of its online fitness application
- Represented a multinational corporation in personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from the use of fertilizer products
- Represented a global security and aerospace company in federal and state court against class and mass toxic tort actions involving air and groundwater contamination in Burbank, California
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central, Southern, and Northern Districts of California
- US Court of Appeals, Second, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits
Education
- Yale University, J.D., 1995
- Ohio University, B.A., 1992: Phi Beta Kappa
Honors & Awards
- Named a “Benchmark California Star,” (2019, 2021-2026) and “Local Litigation Star,” (2018-2026) for General Commercial, Insurance, and Product Liability by Benchmark Litigation
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Automative/Transport (2022)
- Named a “Life Science Star” for Product Liability by LMG Life Sciences (2012-2015 & 2018-2020)
- Recognized as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers (2006-2007)
Professional Activities
Speaker
- Law Seminars International, “Consumer Class Actions: How are the Lower Courts Interpreting and Applying Comcast” (December 2013)
- Law Seminars International, “Class Certification Trends and Motions to Dismiss Class Allegations” (December 2012)
- Law Seminars International, “Wal-Mart v. Dukes” Telebriefing (June 2011)
- Strafford CLE Webinar, “Pleading and Defending Class Actions: Leveraging the Latest Developments in CAFA Removal Jurisdiction” (December 2010)
- University of Southern California’s Levan Institute for Humanities and Ethics, “Googling Human Rights: Do Global Information Gatekeepers Like Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google Have A Duty To Protect and Promote Human Rights?” (March 2009)
- American Industrial Hygiene Association’s PCIH 2008 Conference, “Manganese: Questions, Context and Controversy: Legal Aspects” and “Challenges in Manganese Exposure Assessment in Welding Operations” (November 2008)
- American Conference Institute’s Second National Forum on Welding Rod Litigation, “Diagnosing and Proving Manganese Exposure” (June 2005)
Related Practices
Related Industries