Scott Dauscher: Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

Overview

Scott Dauscher is one of the Firm’s Chief Operating Officers, serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee and is the former Chair of the Commercial and Complex Litigation Practice Group. He also serves as Chair of the firm’s Class Action Defense Group, managing AALRR’s extensive class action practice and its team of experienced defense attorneys.

Mr. Dauscher is a distinguished trial attorney who has achieved tremendous successes for his clients which has earned him significant recognition. In 2017, he was named a Top Labor and Employment Attorney by the Daily Journal. Mr. Dauscher has the distinction of being one of just a handful of attorneys in California who have litigated both a wage and hour class action and Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) case successfully through trial. Also in 2017, Mr. Dauscher won a case before the California Supreme Court, earning a very rare unanimous decision from the court in favor of his client.

Mr. Dauscher has extensive experience with class action and PAGA representative lawsuits, particularly those involving claims for unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification, meal & rest periods, inaccurate wage statements, and unreimbursed expenses. He has defended hundreds of clients from class action and PAGA lawsuits in various industries, including construction, transportation, manufacturing, food processing, restaurant, retail, assisted living and skilled nursing, property management, and temporary staffing. Mr. Dauscher has defeated numerous attempts to bring class action and PAGA lawsuits against his clients and has prevailed at trial on wage and hour claims.

Mr. Dauscher also represents employers in all manner of employment litigation matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage & hour, and prevailing wage litigation. Mr. Dauscher aggressively litigates complex employment cases in state and federal court and in arbitrations, and has represented clients before numerous state and federal administrative agencies. Mr. Dauscher also provides advice and counsel to employers regarding proactive policies and practices to avoid claims and liability.

In addition to his employment litigation practice, Mr. Dauscher represents companies in various business litigation matters, including unfair competition, trade secret, breach of contract, and other business tort and commercial litigation.

Honors & Recognitions

In 2006-2008 and 2010, Mr. Dauscher was named a "Southern California Rising Star" by Law & Politics and Los Angeles magazine, based on a poll of selected Southern California lawyers. This recognition honors exceptional Southern California attorneys who are under the age of 40. In 2017, he was named a Top Labor and Employment Attorney by the Daily Journal.

Representative Matters

Reported Cases

Roy Allan Slurry Seal, Inc., et al. v. American Asphalt South, Inc., 2017 WL 631765 (Cal., Feb. 16, 2017). In an important case of first impression, the California Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the claim against Mr. Dauscher’s client for intentional interference with prospective economic advantage should be dismissed.

Representative Matters

Defeated class certification on behalf of large construction contractor in lawsuit alleging claims for unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest periods, waiting time penalties and unfair business practices.
Defeated class action against transportation company in case brought on behalf of truck drivers who alleged unpaid overtime and missed meal and rest periods.
Defeated class action against labeling manufacturer in a case alleging unpaid overtime and missed meal and rest periods.
Defeated class action against clothing manufacturer for alleged unpaid expense reimbursements, unpaid wages, and missed meal and rest periods.
In large class action lawsuit against food manufacturer alleging unpaid wages for donning and doffing time, reduced claims to single plaintiff, who settled for small fraction of total estimated liability.
Achieved favorable settlement of class action lawsuit for large restaurant chain in case alleging off-the-clock work and missed meal and rest periods.
Successfully appealed Labor Commissioner award to employee for unpaid wage claims, resulting in judgment in favor of employer.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of large pharmaceutical company in case brought by former employee alleging claims for discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
Obtained a judgment in excess of $1 million on behalf of a software company for breach of contract.
Recovered over $2 million from former employee of a construction company who embezzled from the company.
Obtained judgment in favor of telecommunications company against a competitor who sued for alleged theft of trade secrets.