In-house Counsel
Airport’s general counsel resigns amid reports that he slapped subordinate
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The general counsel at the Denver International Airport has stepped down amid accusations that he repeatedly slapped a colleague at a holiday party.
Scott McCoy, who became the airport’s top lawyer and executive vice president last May, resigned Saturday after a CBS affiliate in Denver reported that he yelled at a member of his team and hit him in the face multiple times in front of their CEO and other top-level executives, according to Corporate Counsel.
The CBS affiliate also reported that the group was discussing police de-escalation tactics when the Dec. 16 incident happened.
McCoy denied hurting his subordinate and said in a statement published by Corporate Counsel “at no point was there any altercation, nor were there interactions involving personal conflict.”
He said he was attempting to lead a demonstration on police de-escalation practices, and “while my intentions were good, and I am very passionate about this topic, unfortunately, it appears that at least one participant found the exercise embarrassing and inappropriate.”
The Denver City Attorney’s Office “promptly investigated the unfortunate incident,” but it wouldn’t provide further comment, a spokesperson told Corporate Counsel. McCoy said he was resigning to “diffuse the situation and avoid distraction from the airport’s many other worthwhile projects.”
The Denver Post also covered the incident, reporting that McCoy said he remembered touching his colleague but denied striking him.
McCoy previously was the chief legal and compliance officer at Siemens Government Technologies Inc. and the associate general counsel for Thales USA Inc., according to Corporate Counsel. He began his legal career at the Exxon Mobil Corp.
Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson will become the airport’s interim general counsel.
Hat tip to Law.com.
