Scot L. Claus

• Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
  • General Commercial Litigation, 2024
• Benchmark Litigation United States
  • United States (National) and Local Litigation Star, 2016-2025
  • Local Litigation Star, 2009-2016 
• The Legal 500 United States
  •   Dispute Resolution, 2021-2022
• Best Lawyers in America®
  • Commercial Litigation & Litigation - Real Estate, 2020-2025
• Litigation Counsel of America
  • Fellow
• Martindale-Hubbell® AVRating
• Southwest Super Lawyers® 
  • Business Litigation, 2010-2021
    
    

Successful defense of Arizona Municipality in Gift Clause challenge to a municipal contract before the Arizona Supreme Court.

Successful defense of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality against “class of one” Equal Protection claims in United States District Court for Arizona District.

Successful defense of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality against $36 Million tort and nuisance claims in Arizona Superior Court.

Successful representation of Arizona municipality in defense of claims brought under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Successful appeal of decision to Arizona Supreme Court of challenge to the constitutionality of car rental surcharge.

Successful appeal of decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of First Amendment claim against Arizona Municipality.

Successful defense in United States District Court of Arizona Municipality and its employees against Equal Protection and Due Process Claims.

Successful defense of Class-Action Securities Fraud Cases.

Successfully defended and obtained dismissal of more than fifty (50) cases brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) in the United States District Court.

Successful defense of state employees in United States District Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on various constitutional claims.

Successfully defended the Presiding Judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court, as well as other Superior Court Judges and Commissioners in constitutional challenge to the Spanish Speaking and Native American DUI Courts in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Successfully defended Presiding Criminal Judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court in RICO claim brought by former Maricopa County Attorney and Maricopa County Sheriff in the United State District Court for the Arizona District.

Represented national transportation company in successful appeal of Federal Tort Claims Act action before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Served as trial attorney in successful defense of $43 million legal malpractice claim litigated in the United States District Court for the Arizona District.

Represented major university professors and the Arizona Board of Regents in multi-party litigation brought by an Indian tribe and various tribal members regarding genetic testing.

Represented plaintiff in wrongful death product liability litigation against national retailer and toy manufacturer resulting in $2.5 million settlement.

Represented plaintiff in trial of wrongful death case, resulting in $1.5 million verdict.

Served as trial counsel in re-trial and reversal of $10 million medical malpractice verdict.

Served as lead counsel in defense of numerous trademark and copyright infringement matters litigated in United States District Court.

Served as lead counsel in numerous inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, including opposition and cancellation proceedings.

Prepared and prosecuted trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and prepared intellectual property agreements, assignments, and licenses.

Significant Cases

Neptune Swimming Foundation v. City of Scottsdale, 256 Ariz. 497 (2024)

Satanic Temple, Inc. v. City of Scottsdale, 423 F. Supp. 3d 766, 770 (D. Ariz. 2019), aff’d 856 Fed. Appx. 724 (9th Cir. 2021) 

Saban Rent-a-Car LLC v. Arizona Dep't of Revenue, 434 P.3d 1168 (2019), cert. denied, 140 S. Ct. 195, 205 L. Ed. 2d 132 (2019)

Save Our Pres. Political Action Comm. of Scottsdale v. City of Scottsdale, 753 Fed. Appx. 476 (9th Cir. Feb. 20, 2019)

In re Allstate Life Ins. Co. Litig., 971 F. Supp. 2d 930 (D. Ariz. 2013)

U-Haul International, Inc.. et al. v. Kamer, et al., 626 F.3d 498 (9th Cir. 2010)

Thomas v. Mundell, 572 F.3d 756 (9th Cir. 2009)

Amerco v. NLRB, 458 F.3d 843 (9th Cir. 2006)

Lopez v. Town of Cave Creek, 559 F. Supp.2d 1038 (D. Ariz. 2009)

Southwest Pet Products v. Koch Industries, 273 F. Supp.2d 1041 (D. Ariz. 2003)

Turken v. Gordon, 224 P.3d 158 (2010) (amicus curiae)

Havasupai Tribe v. Arizona Board of Regents, 204 P.3d 1063 (Ct. App. 2008), petition for review granted, 2009 Ariz. Lexis 82 (2009)

• Presenter, “Presenting to the Judge and Jury,” Arizona Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit, National Business Institute, December 2024

• "What to Do With the Disruptive Speaker: How to Avoid First Amendment Litigation," Serving the Public Lawyer Seminar (2019)
• “Dealing with the ‘Rambo’ Litigator,” Arizona Paralegal Conference (2018)
• “Start Making Sense:  Opening Statements and Closing Arguments,” Arizona Paralegal Conference (2017)
• “Life after Reed: First Amendment Issues,” Serving the Public Lawyer Seminar (February 2017)
• "Prepare to Win: Trial Preparation Strategies for Success," Arizona Paralegal Conference (2016)
• "A Closer Look at Intellectual Property Laws," Arizona Paralegal Conference (2015)
• "Choosing, Using, and Protecting A Name," Arizona Small Business Conference (2015)
• “Putting on Your Case—Trial Nuts and Bolts,” Maricopa County Bar Association (February 2010)
• “Arguing Briefs Before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board,” Maricopa County Bar Association (October 2008)
• “What Do I Do Now? The Impact of Barfield and Jonovich on Medical Liens,” Maricopa County Bar Association (January 2004)
• “What Every Practitioner Needs To Know About Trademark, Copyright, and Patent Law,” (1999)
• “Choosing, Using, and Protecting A Name,” Arizona Small Business Conference (1997)
• “A Trademark Primer For Small Business,” Bid Source (December 1997)