In 1911, he helped defend union members John J. and James B. McNamara after they were charged with bombing the "Los Angeles Times" building and causing the deaths of 21 people. The McNamaras eventually confessed: John went to prison for life, and James served a 10-year sentence. For daring to defend the brothers, "Times" publisher Harrison Gray Otis (a virulent opponent of labor unions) attacked Scott in the paper's pages for the next several years. In 1913, Scott sued Otis, the "Times", and the Times-Mirror Company for libel. After three separate trials, Scott won judgments of nearly $70,000.