Peter Jennetten

About Peter Jennetten

I joined Quinn Johnston in 1996. My practice includes the litigation of all types of personal injury cases, but increasingly focuses on federal court litigation and appeals. I began my career litigating and trying auto-accident, premises liability, Animal Control Act, and other tort claims. A majority of my practice now involves the defense of federal court cases throughout the state of Illinois on behalf of municipalities, municipal officials, and private employers, with the majority of my work in the defense of correctional healthcare staff and companies. I have represented police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and other law enforcement officers in excessive force and false arrest cases including Taser claims, officer involved shootings, and control tactics and defended correctional officers, jail staff, and correctional healthcare providers against civil rights claims alleging the mistreatment of inmates and detainees, denial of medical care, or arising from in-custody deaths. Plaintiffs typically assert these claims under the civil rights act, Section 1983, making claims for violations of the Fourth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment (due process, equal protection, or racial profiling) or Eighth Amendment (prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment). I have successfully defended cases on the merits and by asserting immunities and defenses available to public officials, such as qualified immunity and absolute immunity. Where appropriate, I have also negotiated favorable resolutions.Outside the law enforcement context, I have represented municipalities and employers in various employment claims under Section 1983, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Title VII (prohibiting discrimination), retaliation, and whistleblower statutes. This includes the defense of municipal employee free speech claims and issues raised by Garcetti v. Ceballos.

Experience

1. Tort, Insurance, and General Litigation Practice Group Leader at Quinn Johnston

   Quinn Johnston

   Jan 2020 — Present

Education

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  B.S., Ecology, Ethology and Evolution

  1987 — 1991

• Georgetown Law

  J.D., Law

  1993 — 1996

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  M.S., Biology

  1991 — 1993

Skills

• Trials
• Legal Assistance
• Courts
• Litigation
• Civil Rights
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Business Litigation
• Depositions
• Employment Litigation
• Negligence
• Commercial Litigation
• Professional Negligence
• Medical Malpractice
• Claim
• Insurance
• Torts
• Insurance Law
• Hearings
• Construction Law
• Civil Litigation
• Personal Injury
• Liability
• Legal Advice
• Appeals
• Trial Practice
• Public Liability
• Health Law
• Mediation
• Wrongful Death
• Civil Rights Litigation
• Premises Liability