Secrest Wardle Executive Partner Margaret A. Scott Named Chair of Michigan Arson Prevention Committee's Governmental Resources Committee

Troy, MI - Secrest Wardle Executive Partner Margaret A. Scott has been named as Chair of Michigan Arson Prevention Committee’s (MAPC) Government Resources Committee.

Walter O. Herndon, Jr., President of MAPC, commented about Ms. Scott’s appointment:

“The Michigan Arson Prevention Committee (MAPC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Margaret Scott as chair of the Governmental Resources Committee. Margaret has been a long-time supporter of the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee, teaching, event planning, and sharing her knowledge with law enforcement, fire service and insurance industry representatives. The Committee, with Margaret’s assistance, will continue to educate the public on the impact Arson has on Michigan residents.”

MAPC, formed in 1973, is a group comprised of representatives from a variety of industries, including fire and police services, business, insurance, and governmental entities. This dedicated group has a strong commitment to reduce arson across the state of Michigan. MAPC sponsors a number of education and public information programs, as well as maintains a tip-reward program that aids in the arrest of about 70 arsonists a year. Anyone who has information about an arson or suspicious fire can call Arson Control at 1-800-44-ARSON. The program rewards up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of arsonists. For additional information regarding MAPC, please visit http://www.miarsonprevention.org/.

Margaret Scott served as an Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney from 1988 to 2008. The majority of her career at the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office was spent as a Special Prosecutor, where she was elevated to the office of Chief of the Auto Theft Unit in 1996. As a felony trial prosecutor, Ms. Scott prosecuted crimes involving insurance fraud, identity theft, embezzlement, and arson of insured property. During her time with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office she successfully prosecuted nearly 100% of the cases assigned to the Auto Theft Unit. Ms. Scott obtained her B.A. from Michigan State University in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She received her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, and was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1988. Ms. Scott is licensed in all Michigan Courts.

For her dedication to the fight against auto theft and insurance fraud, Ms. Scott received the Bob Sattler Award by the North Central Regional Chapter/International Association of Auto Theft Investigators in 2007. She received an Award for Professional Excellence for services provided to the Michigan State Police characterized by outstanding performance of duty and a personal commitment to the excellence associated with the prosecution of a 1998 Western Wayne Auto Theft Unit Investigation. Ms. Scott is a past recipient of the William V. Liddane Award by the Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Organization in recognition of her advocacy in reducing auto-theft related crimes in Michigan.

Ms. Scott is a member of the following associations:

· North Central Regional Chapter-International Association of Auto Theft Investigators

· Michigan Chapter-International Association of Arson Investigators

· Michigan Arson Prevention Committee

· Michigan Help Eliminate Auto Theft Committee

Secrest Wardle is a law firm specializing in defense litigation and counsel for insurance, municipal, and commercial clients headquartered in Troy, Michigan, with additional offices in Grand Rapids and Lansing. For more information, www.secrestwardle.com.