John (Jack) Scarola graduated with honors from Georgetown University in 1969 and from Georgetown Law Center in 1973. Before joining the firm in 1978, he was Chief Felony Prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office, where he was lead counsel in the trials of more than fifty major criminal cases, including the nation’s first gavel-to-gavel televised murder trial.
Mr. Scarola is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Practice and in Commercial & Business Litigation. While he devotes a portion of his practice to personal injury, wrongful death, and medical negligence cases, he has developed a special interest in representing individuals and small businesses damaged by abuses of corporate power. In addition, Mr. Scarola has had extensive involvement in the successful prosecution of many multi-plaintiff, mass tort and class action lawsuits.
Mr. Scarola is the former President of the Palm Beach County Justice Association and has played an active leadership role in both county and statewide professional associations. He is a recipient of the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award and the Legal Aid Society’s 1994 Community Service Award honoring his involvement in giving free legal help to individuals and community groups. By appointment of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, Mr. Scarola serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. Mr. Scarola was a founding member of the Board of Directors of The Lord’s Place and has served on the Board continuously for more than 20 years. The Best Lawyers in America has listed Mr. Scarola in the specialties of Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation.
Mr. Scarola recently served as co-lead counsel in the case of Coleman (Parent) Holdings Inc. v. Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. which resulted in a verdict of $1.45 billion, reportedly the largest verdict ever returned for the benefit of a single individual. He has been responsible for over 30 verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars.
