JOHN (JACK) SCAROLA graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1969 and from Georgetown Law Center in 1973. Prior to joining the firm, during 1978, he was Chief Prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office where he led the prosecution of over fifty major criminal trials, including the first fully televised murder trial.
Mr. Scarola is Board Certified in both Civil Litigation and Commercial & Business Litigation practices. While he devotes a substantial portion of his practice to personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice, he has developed a special interest in representing individuals and small businesses harmed by the abuses of large and powerful corporations.
Mr. Scarola is a past President of the Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association and has served as an active leader in professional associations, both countywide and statewide. He is the recipient of the President’s Pro Bono Service Award from the State Bar Association and the Community Service Award from the Legal Aid Society in recognition of his volunteer service in providing free legal assistance to countless individuals and community groups.
Mr. Scarola is a Director of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers whose membership is by invitation only and whose membership is limited to 500 attorneys. He has been repeatedly named to the Best Lawyers in America in 5 separate areas of his legal practice, was the 2019 Best Lawyer of the Year, and was the 2018 recipient of the Florida Justice Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award .
Education
Bachelor of Arts 1969 Georgetown University
Juris Doctor 1973 Georgetown University Law Center
Professional experience
- May 1978 to present:
- Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA, General Litigation
- Member, Board of Directors
- Corporate Director, Secretary/Treasurer
- Certified as a civil trial lawyer
- Certified as a commercial and business litigation trial attorney
- Four appointments as Special Counsel to the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (investigation and prosecution of ethical violations by members of the judiciary)
- May 1973 to May 1978:
- Deputy State Attorney, 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida; Chief Felony Prosecutor
Martindale-Hubbell Classification
- av
Professional associations
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Florida 2007 by the American Trial Lawyers Association
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Florida Association of Justice, formerly known as the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers
- American Association for Justice, formerly known as the American Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association (Standing Committee on Individual Rights and Responsibilities)
- Vice President 1986-1987
- President 1987-1988
- Florida Bar Rules of Civil Procedure Committee (Vice Chair)
- Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. Board of Directors (appointed by the Board of Governors, State Bar)
- Florida Equal Justice Center (Board of Directors)
- Palm Beach County Bar Association (various memberships and committee chairmanships)
- Palm Beach County Justice Association (Founding Member and Past President)
- Advisory Committee of the Bioethical Law Project
- Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board
- Craig S. Barnard American Inns of Court
- National Trial Lawyers Association (membership by invitation only and limited to 100 Florida attorneys)
- American Bar Association
- Full member of the American Bar Foundation
Memberships and positions held
- Florida State Police Standards Board, Certified Scholar, 1974-1978
- Part-time Professor, Palm Beach Junior College, 1974-1978
- Special Assistant Prosecutor to the Second State Grand Jury by appointment of Governor Askew, 1977-1978
- Complaints Committee of the 15th Judicial Circuit, Bar Association, 1981-1984
- Palm Beach County Sex Crimes Task Force, 1975-1978
- The Lord’s Place, Inc., Board of Directors/President
- Defenders of Marriage Tribunal, Archdiocese of Miami and Palm Beach
- Candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for a seat in the Florida State Senate, 1978
- Growing Together, Inc. (substance abuse treatment program) Board of Directors
- Catholic Lawyers Guild (Board of Directors)
- Snug Harbor Foundation – Board of Directors
Bar Admissions
- Florida Bar Association 1973
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 10/1/81
- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; 9/23/74 General Bar Association;
- 12/8/82 College of Trial Lawyers
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida 2002
Selected for inclusion in
- “Who’s Who of Professionals” International
- The Best Lawyers in the United States in the specialties of commercial litigation, public tort, medical malpractice,
- Personal Injury and High-Level Litigation
- Florida Consumers’ Guide to Law and Featured Attorneys
- Marquis “Who’s Who in American Law”, “Who’s Who in America”, “Who’s Who in the World”
- Top 250 Attorneys in South Florida
- America’s Top 500 Lawyers
- Florida Super Lawyers
- United States Trial Lawyers
- Super Lawyers – Corporate Lawyers Edition
Professional recognitions
- Florida Bar President’s Volunteer Service Award
- Catholic Lawyers Guild, Lawyer of the Year
- Florida House of Representatives, Public Service Recognition
- Palm Beach County Bar Association, Community Service Award
- 2006 Daily Business Review, Best Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year
Featured cases
- State v. Herman: (first-degree murder conviction in the state’s first fully televised trial)
- Farish v. MacArthur: ($2.5 million verdict)
- Scheller v. American Medical International: (Verdict: $7.25 million)
- Giersbrook v. Mathis: (verdict: $2.3 million)
- Cohen v. National Ben Franklin Life: (verdict: $1.3 million)
- Wilmington Trust v. Manufacturers Life: (verdict: $1 million)
- Tuccicaselli v. Stowers: (verdict: $1.8 million)
- Singleton v. Al Packer, Inc.: (settlement: $2.5 million)
- Farish v. Bankers Multiple Line Insurance Company: (verdict: $15.9 million)
- Wallace & Falcon v. Gooding: (settlement: $1 million)
- Pretscher v. Siegel: (settlement: $2.5 million)
- Ruff v. Steak & Ale, etc.: (settlement: $10 million)
- Intermark v. CIGNA/Dental Health (settlement: $1 million)
- Scheller v. American Medical International: (verdict: $19.2 million)
- Scheer v. Entel: (verdict: $1.9 million)
- Ferguson v. North American Van Lines: (verdict: $15 million)
- Talbot v. Williams: ($62 million judgment)
- Eastern Cement v. Halliburton: (Verdict: $4.1 million)
- Robinson v. Caulkins: (settlement after plaintiff’s $13.5 million verdict)
- Leardi v. Manatee Memorial Hospital: ($6 million settlement)
- Hungerford v. Palm Beach County: (settlement: $4 million)
- Walks v. Gulf & Warrier: (settlement: $1.5 million)
- Menendez v. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office: Post-trial settlement ($2.5 million)
- Calves vs. Lennar: (over $3 million)
- Coleman (Parent) Holdings, Inc. v. Arthur Andersen: ($70 million settlement)
- Coleman (Parent) Holdings, Inc. v. Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.: (Verdict: $1.454 billion)
- Beers v. Hulick and Reynolds & Reynolds, (Verdict: $21,600,000)
- Doctor v. Lawyer, ($4 million settlement)
- Vasa v. Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. ($3 million settlement)
- White Water v. Ethicon (Verdict of over $1.9 million)
- Waterbury v. State Farm ($1.8 million verdict)
- Keil v. Keller ($3.2 million verdict)
- W v. ABC Medical Center (Confidential settlement of over $1 million)
- Schein v. Ernst & Young, LLP (Judgment after trial and appeal of over $33 million)
- Uddin v. Patel, et al (Settlement over $900,000)
- Mignogna ($8,400,000 Pre-Lawsuit Settlement)
- Piendle v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA, Inc. (Verdict: $2,470,000 plus attorneys’ fees)
- Commercial Consultants, LLC v. BBA US Holdings, Inc., et al. (Verdict: $2.175 million plus interest and fees)
- Weir v. Barot (Verdict: $2,000,000 plus fees)
- AB, Inc. v. Lawyers (Post-trial settlement of approximately $20 million)
- Insureds v. Insurer (Post-trial settlement of over $25 million)
- Simms v. Kraft (Verdict: over $7 million)
- Sammarco v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA, Inc. (Verdict: $1,125,000)
- Crossley v. Bethesda (Verdict: $16,000,000)
- Stephens v. PBSO (Verdict: $23,000,000)
- Gould/Goldman v. Check Cashing USA, Inc. (total combined judgments of $1,799,115.17)
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