Attorney Profile
You would think that Peter knew at an early age he would practice law in Peoria with Quinn Johnston. He grew up in Peoria and his father, Bob Jennetten, was a lawyer with Quinn Johnston throughout his entire career. Peter started out with a bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Ethology and Evolution and a master’s degree in Biology before turning to law school. Peter completed his law degree cum laude from Georgetown University in 1996 and joined the firm that year. He is currently a member of the firm’s Management Committee and the practice group leader for the firm’s Tort, Insurance and General Litigation Practice.
Currently Peter practices primarily in Federal Court, defending police officers and police departments, municipalities, jailers and medical care providers who work in prisons against claims brought against them for injuries and civil rights violations. He also defends municipalities and businesses in federal and state employment discrimination claims and handles general tort defense. “It’s a privilege to represent law enforcement officers, first responders, and jail staff,” he says. “They face a special set of challenges on a daily basis. It’s tough on them physically and emotionally, so they deserve the best defense available when they are sued over.”
Highlights of Peter’s current practice include:
- Being an active member of the DRI’s Governmental Liability practice group, serving on the group’s seminar committee, and chair of the Partnering with Industry committee;
- Winning over 100 summary judgments in federal court cases in claims for civil rights violations and employment disputes;
- Successfully defending civil rights claims in all federal court districts, and has tried cases to verdict in three of the four divisions of the Federal District Court for the Central District and in the Northern District.
Peter resides in Peoria with his wife Jolie, four children, three dogs, one guinea pig, a bearded dragon and a variety of fish.
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Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1996
- Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Senior Articles Editor
- Honors: cum laude, Environmental Law Forum (Chairman)
- M.S., Biology, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1993
- Honors: cum laude, with distinction
- B.S., Ecology, Ethology & Evolution, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1991
- Honors: cum laude, with distinction
Admissions/Associations
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- Peoria County Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- American Inns of Court
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Defense Research Institute, Civil Rights Seminar Committee
- United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Local Rules Committee
- Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Publications
- “Defenses to Third Party Actions in Tort,” Third Party Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2000
- The Law of Covenants between States and Foreign Powers, 8 Geo. Int’l L. Rev. 141, 1995
Presentations
- “Venue and Transfer,” 2012 Federal Jurisdiction Seminar, United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and Peoria Bar Association, July 2012
- “Police Liability Update,” Illinois Municipal League Conference, 2010 – present
- “Wills v. Foster, A Defense Perspective,” Civil Practice Seminar, Peoria County Bar Association, 2009 – present
Ratings/Recognitions
- Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV® Preeminent
- Illinois Super Lawyers List, 2008-2022
- Illinois Leading Lawyers List, 2015-2022
- Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year, 2003
- InterBusiness Issues, “40 Leaders Under Forty,” 2002