Scott G. Hunziker is based out of the firm’s Houston office. For nearly a decade, Scott was a Named Partner and served as a Managing Partner for top plaintiff law firms within the industry. Licensed in five states, and fourteen federal courts, he represents clients and appears in courtrooms across the entire United States. As the National Trial & Appellate Counsel for insurance related matters, Scott has taken over fifty jury trials to verdict at both the state and federal levels. Duly licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, he has also briefed and argued over thirty appeals, appearing personally before the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Circuits.
In representing business owners and homeowners alike, Scott was lead counsel in seminal cases before judges, juries and arbitration panels, which have impacted the entire insurance world. In The Landing Council of Co-Owners v. Lloyds of London, Scott obtained a $25 million arbitration award on behalf of a condominium association in Seabrook, Texas, which remains one of the largest of first party awards in the United States. In the matters of Ramada Inn – Sharpstown v. Security Nation Insurance Corporation and Zoya Enterprises vs. Continental Casualty, he secured awards of over $7 million and $5 million, respectively. Finally, in Andrew Pitre v. State Farm Lloyds, Garcia v. USAA Texas Lloyd’s Company, and Karen Pham d/b/a Saigon Restaurant v. State Farm Lloyd, Scott obtained jury verdicts amounting to multiples upon multiples of the actual damages sought by his clients – directly impacting all policyholders facing similar delay, denial and underpayment from their insurance companies.
Also working to create new law within this arena, Scott was lead appellate counsel in Haven Lane, LP v. Mid-Century Insurance Co., argued to the Texas Court of Appeals, which related to policyholder rights in the appraisal arena. In Seascape Owners Association, Inc. v. IRC, Scott solidified the rights of public adjusters to their rightful share of settlement percentages – a decision that he won at the Texas Court of Appeals, and then again before the Texas Supreme Court. He has also argued intricate coverage matters before the Fifth Circuit, including the well-known matter of Hamilton Properties v. The American Insurance Company. In each instance, and with each opportunity, Scott has fought for the policyholders, public adjusters, and all others “on the right side of the battle”.
Over two decades of legal practice, Scott has represented thousands of policyholders, and secured settlements and judgements exceeding $100 million. Now, he is dedicated to developing the first party practice of ZMF, and once again creating an industry leader in the insurance space. In doing so, his principles and purpose remain the same as when his career began: “You may gain a client with knowledge or skill, but you keep them by earning their trust and maintaining their confidence.” Twenty years have taught him that this can only be accomplished by treating individual matters with individual respect, by conducting a detailed evaluation of both the factual and legal threads of every case, by putting honesty and economic sensibility ahead of spin and rhetoric, and by recognizing that each client’s case is as significant and profound as the experiences that guide his practice.
