Peter brings a strong work ethic, considerable experience, and creativity to resolving his client’s cases and legal disputes. Peter has over 25 years of litigation experience handling complex liability cases, in both the state and federal courts. His experience includes defending state court actions in the district courts of Colorado as well as practicing before the United States District Court of Colorado and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. His practice focuses on federal civil rights claims, employment discrimination claims, professional malpractice and personal injury claims.
Peter has been lead counsel in the defense of several hundreds of cases, with over 30 trials, including jury trials, trials to the court, administrative hearings, and Trinity Broadcasting evidentiary hearings. His experience includes over 40 appellate cases, with over twenty published decisions in both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court and six published decisions from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients in both Nebraska and Wyoming state courts.
Peter joined Lasater & Martin in 2014 following partnerships at two other successful insurance defense firms. His practice remains diverse and includes both private clients and insurance defense work.
Peter’s specialties include the defense of civil rights claims, employment claims, discrimination charges, professional malpractice defense for architects, engineers, pharmacists, as well as a number of professionals, including assisted living facilities. Peter also has over two decades of experience working with churches, religious schools, and nonprofits with respect to employment issues, physical misconduct claims, internal investigations, discrimination claims, mandatory reporting, and other state compliance issues, as well as safe environment training for nonprofits. His work with churches and religious organizations also included defending issues under the U.S. Constitution, including the Free Exercise Clause and Establishment Clause.
In addition to the general litigation practice, Peter has represented a number of municipalities and other government entities, including cases involving claims of constitutional violations and employment-related cases. His work on behalf of government entities has included government immunity, defense of violations of procedural due process, substantive due process, liberty interests, First Amendment free speech and assembly claims, as well as claims of unconstitutional takings and excessive force claims.
