Partner and Appellate Group Member, Laura Zaino, offers a reflection after the unexpected passing of colleague, mentor, and loyal friend, Dan Scapellati.
Dan was one of the first people I met when I joined Halloran Sage. I was a third-year law student and he was an accomplished litigator who handled insurance coverage and appellate matters. I helped junior associates prosecute subrogation matters at the request of many of the firm’s insurance company clients. Most of the matters were small claims. Dan handled matters for many of the same clients. He was lead counsel, though. The issues he grappled with and mastered were far more complex, there was much more at stake (both financially and legally) and he was busy litigating, at all levels, before the federal and state courts and regulatory agencies. Still, if I had questions as I worked my way through a $1,500 subrogation file, his door was always open and his unrushed guidance always sound.
Dan was nothing if not consistent. His dedication to serving his clients and to developing the firm’s young lawyers to do the same never faltered in the twenty-plus years I was privileged to work with him. He was no more invested in the appeals we worked on together in more recent years than he was in that $1,500 subrogation file because he gave everything at least 100%. He led by example and was a role model to all.
As a proud father of three, Dan understood the importance of maintaining a work-life balance and he fully supported my efforts to do so. He was encouraging, fair and at the end of each year, he would take the time to come to my office to rib me about how warm I kept it and to thank me for my hard work. Thank you, Dan, for all your hard work and for investing in me. I will miss your visits and I will miss working with you.