Supreme Court permits statutory reduction of Three Strikes sentence that dissent calls an “endorse[ment] [of] legislative overreach”

Scott P. Dixler

Partner
Los Angeles
sdixler@horvitzlevy.com
818.995.0800

Leading businesses, public entities, and employers rely on Scott Dixler’s capabilities in matters involving complex business disputes, class actions, discrimination claims, and torts.

Scott has presented more than twenty oral arguments in state and federal appellate courts. Recognizing Scott’s capabilities as an oral advocate, clients have retained Scott to argue appeals briefed by other counsel. Scott serves on the Amicus Committee of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. He is also on the Executive Board of the American Bar Association Judicial Division’s Council of Appellate Lawyers and formally served on the Board of the Los Angeles Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society.

Prior to joining the firm, Scott gained experience as a litigation associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York.

Credentials

Education

Clerkships

Bar Admissions

Professional Associations

Awards

Representative Matters

Fonseca v. Walmart (2025)

California superior court grants judgment notwithstanding the verdict and eliminates a $34 million damages award in an employment defamation case.

Estate of Rodriguez v. City of Long Beach (2025)

California Court of Appeal reverses $12.2 million jury verdict in wrongful death case against municipality and police officer due to trial court’s erroneous rejection of negligence per se instruction.

A.L. v. Harbor Developmental Disabilities Foundation (2024)

California Court of Appeal limits the duties owed by regional centers for the developmentally disabled.

Musharbash v. San Antonio Regional Hospital (2024)

Horvitz & Levy successfully secures writ relief ordering summary judgment in favor of hospital in wrongful death.

Boermeester v. Carry (II) (2024)

California Court of Appeal holds that private universities disciplining students for sexual assault or intimate partner violence may employ an investigatory model in which the same university official acts as investigator and factfinder.

Perez v. Galt Joint Union Elementary School District (2023)

Court of Appeal affirms defense judgment in favor of school district, holding that workers’ compensation provides exclusive remedy to volunteer injured at a spelling bee.

Boermeester v. Carry (2023)

California Supreme Court holds that universities disciplining students for sexual assault or intimate partner violence do not need to provide the accused student with an opportunity for real-time cross-examination of witnesses.

Viasat v. Acacia Communications (2022)

California Court of Appeal affirms $49 million breach of contract verdict in complex commercial dispute involving misuse of intellectual property.

Brown v. El Dorado Union High School District (2022)

California Court of Appeal affirms dismissal of football injury lawsuit against high school district, finding no evidence of gross negligence and clarifying summary judgment procedure.

Nikmanesh v. Walmart (2022)

Federal district court reduces $27.3 million punitive damages award to $800,400 and denies plaintiff attorney fees.

Birden v. Regents of the University of California (2021)

California Court of Appeal reverses award of economic damages against Horvitz & Levy’s client in workplace discrimination and harassment action

Hardesty v. Sacramento County (2020)

Horvitz & Levy persuades Ninth Circuit to vacate $105 million verdict against Sacramento County in constitutional challenge to the County’s enforcement of mining regulations

Estate of Morad v. City of Long Beach (2020)

Ninth Circuit affirms judgment for City of Long Beach, police chief, and police officer in excessive force case

Acoba v. Olivera Egg Ranch, LLC (2019)

Horvitz & Levy persuades Court of Appeal to affirm judgment following jury verdict for egg ranch in nuisance case

Hernandez v. First Student, Inc. (2019)

California Court of Appeal affirmed judgment allocating eighty percent of fault to the plaintiff who darted into the street on his bicycle

Klune v. Palo Verde Health Care District (2019)

Ninth Circuit rejects hospital executive's claims in lawsuit against former employer.

Strategic Concepts, LLC v. Beverly Hills Unified School District (2018)

California Court of Appeal applies conflict of interest law to reverse $23 million breach of contract judgment against school district.

Simers v. Los Angeles Times Communications, LLC (2018)

Court of Appeal rejects constructive discharge claim.

Martinez v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co. (2017)

California Court of Appeal affirms judgment in favor of power line clearing contractor in negligence action

Sheehe v. Kihagi (2016)

California Court of Appeal rules for H&L pro bono client in rent control dispute

Bertsch v. Mammoth Community Water District (2016)

California Court of Appeal issues published opinion affirming summary judgment for community association and water district in skateboard injury case

Carter v. Heitzler (2015)

California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment in negligence suit arising from horseback riding injury.

Publications