Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–People you meet while in college sometimes turn out to have profound impacts in later years, when viewed from the threshold of retirement. The same could be said for those ubiquitous bulletin boards on college campuses, for it was a three by five index card that law-school graduate Scott Marinella plucked off a bulletin board that led him to Dayton.

Newly minted attorney G. Scott Marinella answered that query on the bulletin board in the placement office at Gonzaga School of Law in Spokane. "I got a call from Terry [Nealey]," Marinella said of that fateful moment long ago. "We interviewed and just kind of clicked."

Marinella will retire from practicing law at Dayton's long-time firm Marinella and Boggs on January 1, 2021, after a long and fruitful 36 years. He will continue as District Court Judge as there are two years remaining on the current term. Marinella declined to speculate on his future plans regarding the bench.

Unfortunately, a formal retirement celebration is not possible due to the pandemic. Well-wishers are encouraged to call or send a card.

"When I first met him," said former partner Terry Nealey, "he gave a very good first impression. He has a great personality and is easy to talk to. I thought he'd make a great fit with our practice, with me and the community."

"Scott has been the single biggest influence on my legal career," said current partner Kim Boggs. "By words and example, he taught me to work hard for my clients, be professional with my colleagues, clients and staff–even when I was frustrated and stressed, protect my credibility by being honest, rational and direct with my clients, judges and opposing counsel, and to do what I said I would do."

Boggs and Nealey both agreed about Marinella's aptitude as an attorney. "He is a very, very smart lawyer," Nealey said. "He has good instincts and was good at coming up with the proper legal answers and procedures to resolve problems for clients."

In addition, Nealey pointed out, Marinella was also a valuable partner to bounce the issues of challenging cases off of, to get a second opinion. And Marinella's sense of humor was adept at breaking the tension of heavy moments with the perfect words to get through the tough issues, Nealey said.

"I was very pleased and proud to work with him over all these years and I certainly gained a great deal of confidence in his work and opinions," Nealey said.

"I've been very, very blessed in having two super partners," Marinella said. "First Terry, now with Kim. They're very good lawyers. We get along. We click. Not a lot of people can say that.

"It's been a great experience for the last 36 years," Marinella said.

Both Marinella and Nealey remarked about the breadth of cases they handled through the years. "We handled a variety of cases," Marinella said.

But one highlight that stands out is arguing before the Washington State Supreme Court. "A lot of lawyers go through their careers and don't argue in front of the Supreme Court," Marinella said. "That's pretty intimidating, going in front of the justices at the Temple of Justice."

The Renton, Wash., native attended Gonzaga School of Law from 1980-1983. After graduation, he passed the bar exam and was working for a Spokane law firm, Turner, Stoeve, Gagliardi and Goss, when the opportunity to practice law in Dayton came up. His undergraduate degree was Business Administration from Central Washington State College, and he earned an M.B.A. from National University while employed in San Diego as a claims adjuster.

Marinella and his wife Sue arrived in Dayton in January, 1984. He was familiar with southeastern Washington thanks to his uncle, who had been a juvenile probation officer in Walla Walla County, and he had been offered a football scholarship at Walla Walla Community College. "I wasn't going back to the west side," he said.

-Chronicle and file photos

His first "office" was a cubicle as the Woolson and Nealey law offices had yet to be remodeled with extra offices and conference rooms. Nealey and Marinella expanded the building with an extra office and a conference room. They later added another office and conference room, which made Marinella's current office the first remodel's conference room.

On the judicial side, Marinella ran for and won District Court Judge in 2002 and was later appointed as a Court Commissioner. He has been on the bench for 18 years.

One proud moment was swearing in son Tony after he earned his law degree. Tony had been a Seattle policeman and studied law in nigh school. He now works in downtown Seattle for an insurance defense firm.

Scott's and Sue's daughter Lauren is married and they have two grandchildren with another due in February.

"I came here in January of 1984 and I've been here ever since," Marinella said. "Thirty-six years."