Scott Johnson | Attorney with 20+ years of experience in Civil Litigation

Mr. Johnson is a licensed attorney in California, with more than 20-years of experience in civil litigation, with an emphasis in handling personal injury, catastrophic injury, an wrongful death claims. Mr. Johnson's legal education was obtained at Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, where his studies focused on civil litigation and trial practice.

After graduation from law school in 1996, Mr. Johnson joined the Law Offices of Machado & Cousins in Modesto, California. While working at this civil litigation boutique, Mr. Johnson had the opportunity early in his career to try several cases to verdict.  In 1998, just two years removed from law school, Mr. Johnson tried his first jury trial to verdict as lead trial counsel. The result was a six-figure judgment against a hospital for premises liability where the settlement offer going into trial by the hospital was a waiver of costs.

In 1999, Mr. Johnson returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where he joined a nationally recognized law firm specializing in professional liability and general liability claims.

In 2007, Mr. Johnson co-founded Matiasic Roth & Johnson in San Francisco, CA. For over a decade, Mr. Johnson's practice at Matiasic Roth & Johnson focused on personal injury, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims.

In 2018, Mr. Johnson founded his current law firm, Law Office of Scott L. Johnson in Dublin,CA, to better service a growing clientele located in the Tri-Valley Area and in the California Central Valley.

Mr. Johnson's civil litigation practice is broad-based, with extensive experience in personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, professional liability, and public entity liability.

Mr. Johnson has tried several cases to verdict in both State and Federal Courts for both plaintiffs and defendants with successful results.

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.

Ruiz v. Merced Restaurant (Wrongful Death Action -- $2,500,000 settlement): Family's 16-year-old son was walking home after an evening of skateboarding with friends when a motorist ("JM"), driving under the influence of alcohol and at an excessive rate of speed, struck and killed the 16-year old. JM had allowed his auto liability insurance to lapse, and was subsequently prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter. Through extensive investigation and discovery, Mr. Johnson was able to develop evidence that JM worked as a waiter at a local restaurant; the restaurant's bartender would occasionally "comp" alcoholic beverages for wait staff after the close of business hours; after completing a dinner shift, JM was served 4 to 5 screwdrivers within a 2-hour period in the restaurant's bar; and JM was visibly impaired when he left the restaurant premises to drive home on the night of the incident. Based on the above evidence, Mr. Johnson pursued negligence claims against JM's employer and was able to obtain a $2,500,000 settlement for the family of the 16-year-old. The result represents one of the highest reported settlements for the wrongful death of a minor in the Central Valley. More importantly, the restaurant has changed its policies regarding consumption of alcohol by its employees after work hours.

Mace v. United States of America (Federal Tort Action -- Confidential 7-figure settlement): Mace was enjoying the shade under a canopy of trees at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park (“Park”), when a large seed pod fell from above, striking Mace in the head, causing a traumatic brain injury. The trees in question were an exotic species (Araucaria Bidwilli) native to Austria and rarely found in the United States. Park Staff were aware that the exotic trees periodically produced large seed pods (weighing as much as 10 to 15 lbs.) that would fall to the ground, yet failed to provide any warnings to Park visitors or to prevent Park visitors from congregating beneath the trees. The Defense was buoyed by the absence of any other injury incidents involving the trees during the Park’s 50-year existence and the fact that Mace was “homeless”, had not been employed for more than 15-years, and had a lengthy history of alcohol abuse. After years of tenacious discovery efforts, and multiple mediation sessions, Mr. Johnson was able to recover a 7-figure confidential settlement for Mace and help Mace get his life back on track.

How did you build a successful practice?
I have been able to build a successful law practice by adhering to several important principles, including the following: (a) limiting the number of clients/cases I handle at any given time so that I can provide my best efforts to each client/case; (b) building trust and respect with each client by being responsive to client communications, providing periodic case updates, and establishing reasonable expectations.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Significant experience in the subject matter for which the prospective client is seeking legal assistance; and direct access to the attorney, as opposed to the attorney's secretary, assistant, or other staff person.

How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
Local knowledge -- specifically familiarity with the local court, local court rules and protocols, and opposing counsel -- are all beneficial in reaching a client's objectives.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
Following an initial consultation, I can identify the various options available to a prospective client, recommend the option most likely to achieve a prospective client's objectives, and discuss reasonable expectations for pursing each option.

What information do you need in a free phone consultation?
For a successful initial consultation on a personal injury claim, it is very beneficial if the prospective client can provide the following information: some personal background information, including employment status; availability of health insurance; summary of facts/circumstances surrounding the potential claim; description of injuries; and summary of medical treatment and expenses to date.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
I develop a close and personal bond with each client, and make best efforts to achieve the client's objectives. Years after resolving a client's case, I am often contacted by friends and family members of the former client seeking legal assistance, which provides a great sense of pride and satisfaction in the work I do.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is being able to work with a client who is struggling through a very difficult chapter in life; helping the client overcome the adversity; and seeing the client get their life back on track.

What are your other interests in addition to law?
I have 3 young children, and am actively involved in Dublin's soccer & baseball leagues and also the local Jr. Warrior's Basketball League. In addition to family/children related interests, my hobbies include cycling and snow skiing.