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John C. Peterson
Retired
Location:
Phone No: (920) 831-0300
Fax 920-831-0165
John has been with the firm since 1982 and practiced personal injury law in New England for six years before returning to Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Lawrence University where he majored in philosophy and economics. He then graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law where he served as an editor of the law review.
John has received the highest possible rating by the pre-eminent, national, legal directory, Martindale-Hubbell, and, in multiple polls of the northeast Wisconsin bar, he has been selected as one of the area’s best personal injury and civil rights lawyers. In 2001, John received the Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year award from the Wisconsin Association for Justice. John has been repeatedly named a Super Lawyer by Milwaukee Magazine.
In 2010, he was selected as one of the top trial lawyers in Wisconsin by the American Association for Justice and was selected as a Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America.
John has long served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers (now the Wisconsin Association for Justice), and in 1995 he served as president of that organization. He has served on the board of governors and was the Wisconsin State Delegate for the American Association for Justice. Since 1990, he has been certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. John is also certified as a civil pretrial specialist.
For several years, John was the chairperson responsible for continuing legal education for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. He has lectured extensively to the trial bars of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa. By invitation, he has also lectured nationally at meetings presented by the American Association for Justice.
John resides in Appleton with his wife, Martha Hemwall, Ph.D. He has served as president of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Fox Valley. He has been on the boards of the Lawrence University Alumni Association, the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Foundation and the Civil Rights and Responsibilities Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. For 25 years he served as the chair of the Election Commission of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He currently serves on the board of directors of Appleton Downtown, Inc., and on the board of trustees of the Appleton Public Library. In addition, he coached grade school, girls’ basketball for nine years and high school and college mock trial for over 15 years.
Areas Of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Civil Rights
- Automobile Accidents
- Dog Attacks
- Premises Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Appellate Matters
Bar Admissions
- Rhode Island, 1976
- Wisconsin, 1983
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1977
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1983
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1994
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, pro hac vice
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1995
- U.S. District Court District of Wyoming
Classes/Seminars
- Chairperson, Continuing Legal Education, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Lecturer, American Association for Justice
Honors and Awards
- Super Lawyer by Milwaukee Magazine
- Received the highest possible rating by the Preeminent, National, Legal Directory, Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected as one of the area’s Best Personal Injury and Civil Rights Lawyers
- Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, Wisconsin Association for Justice, 2001
- Selected as one of the top trial lawyers in Wisconsin, American Association for Justice, 2010
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1990
- Board Certified as a Civil Pre-Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Education
- Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
- Lawrence University
- B.A.
- Major: Philosophy
- Major: Economics
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Lawrence University Alumni Association
- Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers (now the Wisconsin Association for Justice), Board of Directors
- Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers (now the Wisconsin Association for Justice), President, 1995
- American Association for Justice, Wisconsin State Delegate, Board of Governors
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Civil Rights and Responsibilities Section
Pro Bono Activities
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Fox Valley
- Wisconsin Civil Liberties Foundation
- Board of Directors, Appleton Downtown, Inc
- Board of Trustees, Appleton Public Library