Scott M. Trager
Principal
strager@semmes.com

Baltimore Office
Suite 1400
25 S. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410.576.4846
410.539.5223 (Fax)

Mr. Trager's work covers a broad spectrum of litigation matters, concentrating on insurance coverage and general liability defense, life, health and ERISA claims, and products liability matters. Mr. Trager has extensive insurance defense and subrogation trial practice in Maryland's circuit and district courts, and in the District of Columbia. Mr. Trager's litigation experience includes, but is not limited to, auto torts, contracts, premises liability claims, construction and utility cases. He also has defended major insurance companies in cases involving claims for benefits under ERISA plans and individual policies in state and federal courts, as well as the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. Mr. Trager has substantial experience in interpreting insurance policies and in rendering opinions on coverage, duty to defend, duty to indemnify, and other insurance contract related issues.

He was selected as a Maryland “Rising Star” by Baltimore Magazine and Maryland Super Lawyers Magazine 2011, 2012.

Admitted

• 2007, United States Supreme Court
• 2004, United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• 2000, United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• 1999, United States District Court for the District of Maryland
• 1999, District of Columbia
• 1998, Maryland

Education

• University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1998)
  • Law Review staff member; Heuisler Honor Society
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville (B.A., summa cum laude, 1994)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Affiliations, Associations & Special Achievements

• Maryland State Bar Association
• Baltimore City Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute, Life, Health & Disability Committee Member
  • Vice-Chair, Marketing Subcommittee
  • Presentation: "Proofs of Claim in Life Insurance - Navigating the Challenges," DRI Life, Health, Disability & ERISA Claims Seminar, Boston, MA (April 26, 2011)
  • Presentation: "Hardt and the Award of Attorneys' Fees in ERISA Actions & the Trend Toward State Prohibition of Discretionary Clauses in ERISA-Governed Benefit Plans", DRI Annual Meeting, San Diego (October 21, 2010)
• Maryland Defense Counsel
• Published Opinion:
  • Phillips Way, Inc. v. American Equity Ins. Co., 143 Md. App. 515, 795 A.2d 216 (2002)
• Speaker: Prove It!, 2012 Eastern Claims Conference, New York, NY, (February 27, 2012)