As a founding member of Davis, Bethune & Jones, Scott S. Bethune feels the mission of DBJ is to help people at their lowest point. “Clients come to us in their greatest need, and it’s our job to help them find resolution,” says Bethune.

Bethune studied at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he wanted to be an FBI agent until he fell in love with the law. He went on to earn his law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, graduating in 1988.

During law school, Bethune clerked at a plaintiffs firm and focused on trial work. He saw how litigation could help families find the closure they need in a desperate situation.

Bethune came together with Davis and Jones in 2001 to form DBJ. To this day, the three men are friends first and partners second. They collaborate across cases, delivering their clients a wealth of experience and knowledge.

If Scott isn’t focused on a case, you can find him with his family or coaching youth sports.

Scott S. Bethune is a founding member of DBJ. Scott and DBJ concentrate their trial practice on product liability, FELA, railroad crossing litigation, automobile/tractor-trailer litigation, professional negligence, mass tort litigation, and representing farmers and other companies that other corporations have financially wronged.

Scott’s success can be largely attributed to his legal acumen, hard work, trial skills, and perhaps most importantly, his ability to communicate easily and effectively with clients, other lawyers, judges, and juries.

He has won numerous professional awards, including regularly being named to The Best Lawyers of America in the categories of Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, and Medical Malpractice Law, has been recognized in the Kansas City Business Journal as “Best of the Bar” by his peers and is included as a “Super Lawyer” by the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer Magazine. Scott has been inducted as a member of The American Board of Trial Advocates, where he is a Past-President of the Western Missouri/Eastern Kansas Chapter. He has also served as Commissioner for the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission and is currently serving on Missouri’s Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission. In addition, Scott was President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 2015. Scott is a member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Foundation, serving as President of the Board.

However, what excites Scott the most about the success he and DBJ have achieved is not the personal accolades he’s received. The best part of Scott’s practice is knowing he has made a difference in the lives of those he has represented and those he has been able to help through his and the firm’s giving back to the legal community and charities throughout Kansas City, the region. With each legal win, Scott knows he has done his part to help a family in need start to put the pieces back together from a personal tragedy. With each contribution to a charity and hour spent volunteering for a cause, Scott and his DBJ peers know they are doing the right thing to promote living well and supporting those organizations that can further help those in need.

2021 Purcell Professionalism Award

Power List – 2021

Power List Power 30 – 2020

Best Lawyers in America

Personal Injury Litigation

Product Liability Litigation

Mass Tort/Class Action Actions

Medical Malpractice Law

Best Lawyers in America

2023 Product Liability Litigation Kansas City, MO

2022 Medical Malpractice Law Kansas City, MO

2021 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Kansas City, MO

2020 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Product Liability Litigation Kansas City

2018 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation Kansas City

2017 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Kansas City, MO

American Board of Trial Advocates – Member; Past President, Western Missouri/Eastern Kansas Chapter

2018 Cornerstone Award Recipient – Stetson Law – In recognition of an unwavering commitment to protecting the right to trial by jury, training generations of trial lawyers, and supporting the profession in both word and deed.

Thomson Reuters – Missouri and Kansas “Super Lawyer” Recognition

Kansas City Business Journal – Best of the Bar

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Past President

University of Missouri-Kansas City – President Law Foundation

University of Missouri-Kansas City – Board of Trustees

Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA) – Member

Litigation Counsel of America – Fellow

Trial Law Institute – Member

Diversity Law Institute – Member