Kenneth A. Peterson | Attorney

The firm's founder, Ken Peterson, after obtaining an undergraduate degree at Northwestern University outside of Chicago, received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. In law school Mr. Peterson served as an Associate Editor on The Tax Lawyer and participated in the school's Street Law clinical program. Mr. Peterson returned to Chicago and practiced at a major law firm for over 17 years, where he became a litigation partner. While in Chicago, Mr. Peterson taught a graduate course for legal assistants at a local college and headed his firm's continuing legal education program. He has also lectured before the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel and the Chicago Claims Conference.

In 2000, Mr. Peterson joined a law firm in Los Angeles, and became a litigation partner at McGuire Woods, an international law firm with over 800 lawyers. Mr. Peterson began his own firm in January 2008, concentrating in business and high exposure personal injury litigation. Mr. Peterson has tried scores of cases with excellent results, most recently obtaining a victory in a 10 million dollar wrongful death case. He has also prepared and argued several successful appeals in state and federal courts. Mr. Peterson has a diploma from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He is admitted to practice in California and Illinois.

Sample Cases

• Kohler v. JTF Trucking: Victory in a two week jury trial in Vista, California involving a wrongful death claim and serious injuries to other plaintiffs. Plaintiffs asked for over $6 million
• Akers v. ATSF Ry. Co.: Victory in 9 day jury trial in Chicago, Illinois involving a product liability claim against railroad and manufacturer of box car divider.
• Akers v. ATSF Ry. Co. (appeal): Successful appeal of verdict in underlying case.
• Frazier v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co.: Obtained a favorable verdict for client in jury trial in federal court in Chicago. Passed off 90% of liability to another defendant and eventually obtained full recovery from co-defendant's insurer in companion insurance coverage action.
• Mortgage fraud defense: Successful judgment in bench trial in federal court in East St. Louis for national home builder and mortgage company.
• Obtained summary judgment for utility lighter manufacturer in multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit.
• Obtained summary judgment in product liability case for major manufacturer of power plant turbines in federal court in Los Angeles.

Employment

2007-present PETERSON LAW OFFICES (Los Angeles)
Formed own firm specializing in general litigation, including insurance defense, product liability, high exposure personal injury litigation, insurance coverage, wrongful termination and general corporate litigation. Clients have included USG Corporation and HDI/Gerling Insurance Company.

2000-2007 McGUIRE WOODS, LLP (Los Angeles)
Became partner in 2002 with predecessor firm (Van Etten, Suzumoto & Becket); concentration in product liability, high exposure personal injury defense, insurance coverage, trade secret, Lanham Act, health care provider reimbursement, and general corporate litigation; served as a national counsel for Scripto in child play utility lighter litigation, defended major smoke alarm manufacturer; handled appeals in California and Illinois; obtained victory as lead counsel in $20 million wrongful death jury trial.

1990-2000 FREEBORN & PETERS (Chicago)
Became partner in 1992. Concentration in civil litigation, including trial and appellate work, commercial litigation, product liability, FELA, insurance coverage disputes, and medical malpractice defense. Administrative duties included partner in charge of work allocation and headed the firm's well-received in-house CLE program. Accomplishments included successful appeal before the 7th Circuit on a bad faith insurance claim affirming a $2.3 million judgment for client (also obtained favorable result for client in jury trial of underlying case); responsible for several issues in a $26 million attorney malpractice case leading to favorable settlement for client.

1982-1990 ARNSTEIN & LEHR and LORD, BISSELL & BROOK
As Associate, handled various civil litigation matters, including product liability, insurance coverage, FELA, medical malpractice and high exposure personal injury defense.

Professional Activities and Honors

Published article and lectured before the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; lectured before Chicago Claims Conference; clinical instructor (two years) at Roosevelt University's post-graduate legal assistant training program; instructor and judge in high school and college mock trial programs in Chicago and Los Angeles; diploma in trial advocacy from NITA.