Andrew B. Scott, Esq.
Andrew Scott has a proven track record of personalized, exceptional representation of public safety officers throughout California in practice areas including workers’ compensation, labor and employment, and retirement law.
Andrew’s commitment to public safety is best exemplified by his workers’ compensation practice, in which he has successfully obtained awards valued in the millions of dollars for safety officers facing permanent total disability. He has won similar awards on behalf of the families of safety officers who have tragically fallen in the line duty. Because Andrew regularly litigates cases involving heart conditions, cancer, pneumonia, low back injuries, blood-borne pathogens, and COVID-19, he has become a published authority on the safety officer presumptions.
A seasoned trial attorney, Andrew gained notoriety when he prevailed in a case in which the California Department of Corrections was found to have engaged in serious and willful misconduct when it failed to protect correctional officers from a planned prison riot. It remains the only reported win of its kind. Regardless of the value or complexity of a case, Andrew views his representation of each client as a unique opportunity to serve those who risk their safety for our community.
Andrew maximizes outcomes for his clients by leveraging his broad, detailed knowledge of other areas of law applicable to public safety:
Retirement Law. An expert in CalPERS retirement law and the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), Andrew knows when and how to coordinates workers’ compensation cases with applications for industrial disability retirement, saving clients money and dispelling confusion while delivering life-long financial security.
Federal Programs. Andrew has also obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional benefits for clients by filing and litigating claims under the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program.
Disability Discrimination. Andrew’s knowledge of State and Federal Labor & Employment laws has enabled him to assist clients fighting to get back to work obtain reasonable accommodation for their disability.
Discipline and Internal Affairs Investigations. Andrew’s background representing officers facing disciplinary investigations has enabled him to have the disciplinary action reduced or withdrawn entirely.
An experienced negotiator, Andrew has successfully resolved complex cases by packaging some or all of these distinct issues (workers’ compensation, retirement, disability discrimination, and pending disciplinary proceedings) into global settlements.
Beyond his work in the courtroom, Andrew provides legal education and training seminars to peace officer associations, deputy sheriff associations, firefighter associations, PORAC members, and chapters of the California Correctional Peace Officer Association. As an extension of that work, Andrew counsels and assists public safety unions to tailor, negotiate, and implement workers’ compensation carve-out programs through labor-management agreements with cities and counties. He has been published in law enforcement periodicals such as PORAC Magazine and the Peacekeeper. Andrew has also accepted invitations to teach fellow attorneys about workers’ compensation law from professional organizations such as the California Lawyer’s Association.
Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree with honors from Northeastern University. He obtained his Juris Doctorate with honors from Pepperdine University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in all the courts of the State of California and the Federal District Court for the Central District of California.