Peter J. Kestner
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
Penn, Kestner & McEwen, PLLP
Practice areas: Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 2001
Education: William Mitchell College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2008, 2011 Call today:
866-437-1367
Penn, Kestner & McEwen, PLLP
5854 Blackshire PathSuite #2
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 Visit website
Details
At Penn, Kestner & McEwen, PLLP, in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Peter J. Kestner stands out with a distinguished board certification in truck accident litigation from the National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). His journey through personal injury law, particularly truck accident cases, spans a robust career as both a private attorney and an advocate for trucking insurers. His courtroom presence is felt across 26 states, weaving through both state and federal courts.
Academically accomplished, Mr. Kestner embarked on his educational voyage at Skidmore College, earning his Bachelor of Science in 1989, before charting his course towards a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in 2001. His legal presence has been felt across multiple states, with admissions in Minnesota (2001), North Dakota (2021), Iowa (2021) and Wisconsin (2021), and appearances before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. He has appeared pro hac vice in trucking cases all across the nation, including in Nebraska, Missouri, Louisiana, Florida and Ohio, as well as federal courts in Wyoming, New York, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Colorado, Utah and Mississippi.
A respected figure in the legal community, Mr. Kestner is past chair of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) and has previously chaired the American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group. His involvement with AAJ extends to the Amicus Committee for their Interstate Trucking Litigation Group.
Beyond his legal acumen, Mr. Kestner holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in insurance. His colleagues have praised him for fostering a flawless, client-focused approach that highlights individualized care, careful attention, and a passionate drive to help clients navigate their legal challenges. Moreover, as a gifted author and speaker, he generously imparts his wisdom to audiences far and wide.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Assault, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Dram Shop Laws, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Defense, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Toxic Mold, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 100% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2001, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://www.minnesotainjury.com/peter-kestner/
- Ohio
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- US District Court of Mississippi
- Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA)
- US District Court of Utah
- North Dakota State Court
- Nevada State Court
- District of North Carolina
- South Carolina State Court
- US District Court of Minnesota
- Kentucky State Court
- Illinois State Court
- New York State Court
- Wyoming State Court
- Wisconsin, 2021
- Iowa, 2021
- North Dakota, 2021
- Minnesota, 2001
- American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group
- Mr. Kestner was part of a trial team in a truck wreck case tried in South Carolina that resulted in a $17,000,000 verdict., 2017
- Peter was part of a trial team that litigated and resolved a single death case in Louisiana for $9,000,000.00, 2022
- Peter was part of a trial team that resolved a case for $30,000,000.00 that was litigated and settled just before trial in Cleveland, Ohio., 2022
- Peter was part of a trial team that took a verdict in Fargo, North Dakota against trucking company., 2020
- Mr. Kestner was part of a trial team that recovered a confidential amount for brain injured young man in a disputed liability case venue in Illinois., 2019
- Mr. Kestner was part of a trial team in a trucking case venue in Rockwall, Texas that secured a $12,500,000 recovery for a blind quadriplegic man in a disputed liability case after eight days of trial., 2019
- Mr. Kestner was lead counsel in a trucking wreck that was tried in Nevada that resulted in a confidential settlement., 2019
- Mr. Kestner received his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 2001., 2001
- Peter became Board Certified in Truck Accident Law as designated by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. (NBTA), 2020
- Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, B.S., 1989
- Speaker- “Defense of Trucking Cases, Why Commercial Motor Vehicle Cases are Different, May 2007
- Speaker- “Insurance Company Rules: Strategies for Maximizing Recovery- IPITLA Seminar, September 2009
- Speaker- “Maximizing Your Recovery: Finding Insurance Coverage, Minnesota Association for Justice Successfully Litigating the Commercial Truck Case, November 2010
- Speaker- “Insurance Company Rules” Tennessee Justice Association, Trucking Litigation Seminar, March 2012
- Speaker- “Insurance Company Rules” Kentucky Justice Association, Trucking Litigation Seminar, June 2012
- Speaker- “Insurance Company Rules” 360 Advocacy Group, Trucking Litigation Seminar, May 2012
- Speaker- “Technology in Trucking Cases” New Jersey Boardwalk Seminar, April 2013
- Speaker- “Finding all Defendants in Wrongful Death Trucking Cases” Minnesota Association for Justice Wrongful Death Seminar, May 2013
- Speaker- “Debunking the Broker Defense” Interstate Trucking Litigation Group Broker Shipper Liability Seminar, June 2013
- Speaker- “Debunking the Broker Defense” Interstate Trucking Litigation Group Broker Shipper Liability Seminar, October 2013
- Author- “Trucking Insurance Chapter” Truck Accident Litigation, 3rd Edition, (American Bar Association 2012)
- Author- “The MCS-90 Endorsement: No Coverage? No Problem, Minnesota Trial (Minnesota Association for Justice Summer 2008)
- Author- “Broker Liability for Negligent Selection of an Independent Contractor”, Interstate Trucking Litigation Group Newsletter (Fall 2012)
- Author- “Broker Liability for Negligent Selection of an Independent Contractor”, Minnesota Trial, Volume 37, No. 4 (Minnesota Association for Justice Fall 2012).
- Co-author- “Potential Source of Recovery in Commercial Trucking Case” The Advocate, Vol. 41 #5 (Kentucky Justice Association Sept./Oct 2013)
- Speaker- “Mediating Trucking Cases” (Minnesota Association for Justice- Spring 2016)
- Speaker- “Understanding the Transportation Cycle” (New Jersey Association for Justice-Boardwalk Seminar 2016)
- Speaker- “Mediating the Trucking Case” (Minnesota Association for Justice May 2016 Speaker: “Maximizing Settlement in Auto Cases” (360 Advocacy Seminar Spring 2016).
- Speaker- “Rules in Trucking Cases” (AAJ Summer Convention 2016)
- Speaker- ATAA Fall 2016 “Truck Insurance 101” Speaker/Course Chair: 2016 AAJ Trucking College
- Speaker- Florida Justice Association Winter 2016: Hell on the Highways, Maximizing the Recovery in Trucking Cases
- Course Chair/Moderator- AAJ Annual Convention, Summer 2017, Trucking Litigation Group. Speaker- Ohio Association for Justice, Spring 2017- Trucking Insurance
- Course Chair and Lecturer- AAJ Trucking College, Spring 2018
- Speaker- Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, Summer 2018- (Understanding the Transportation Cycle
- Speaker- National Board of Trial Advocacy, Summer 2018) (Understanding Broker Cases
- Speaker- New Jersey Association for Justice: Maximizing the Recovery in Truck Cases, Spring 2018 Speaker: 2018 Winter Convention AAJ, Negotiations Matter
- Speaker- AAJ Members Only Truck Group- Trial of a Punitive Damage Truck Case
- Speaker- Kentucky Association for Justice- The Broker Defense, Summer 2018
- Speaker- Stratford Webinar- Finding the Hidden Motor Carrier, Fall 2018
- Speaker- New Jersey Association for Justice, The Defense Perspective, Spring 2019
- Speaker- AAJ Jazz Fest, Negotiation Matters, Winter 2019
- Speaker- AAJ Summer Convention, Understanding the Transport Cycle, Summer 2019
- Speaker- AAJ Jazz Fest, The Inside Scoop: Working with Insurance Adjusters, Spring 2019
- Speaker- ATAA, 2023 New Trucking Lawyers Division Bootcamp, Spring 2023
- Speaker- Olander Seminar, Transportation Update, 2020
- Speaker- 2020 California Seminar, Understanding the Transportation Cycle
- Speaker- 2020 Arkansas Seminar, Identifying the Hidden Motor Carrier Case: The Players; the Documents; and, the Causes of Action
- Speaker- Minnesota Associations for Justice, Understanding the Transportation Cycle, Summer 2020
- Speaker- 2020 NBI Vegas, Rules and Regulations in Trucking Cases
- Speaker- AAJ Jazz Fest, Maximizing Recovery in the Catastrophic Truck Case, Winter 2020
- Speaker- AAJ Convention, Summer 2021
- Speaker- 2021 MN Law Update, Broker-Shipper Liability Case Update, 2021
- Speaker- 2021 AIEG Truck Seminar, Leveraging the Insurers in Your Trucking Case and Identifying the Hidden Motor Carrier Case
- Speaker/Co-author- ATAA, 2022 New Trucking Lawyers Division Bootcamp, Don’t Leave Money on the Table: Learn How to Get the Best Settlement in Your Truck Case, Spring 2022
- Michigan Association for Justice, Trial Advocacy Seminar, Black Belt Settlement Tips and Positioning Your Case for Trial, 2022
- Speaker- Stafford Publications, Inc., Trucking Accident Cases and Insurance Coverage Complexities: Guidance for Personal Injury Counsel, June 2022
- Speaker- AAJ Trial Advocacy College 2022, Litigating Truck Collision Cases, Using the Leasing Regulations to Trigger Additional Coverage, November 2022
- Co-author/Speaker- 2021 NBI Seminar, “Attorney Investigation of CMV Crashes: Strategies for Identifying Key Issues, Recognizing Pivotal Evidence” Strafford Publications, CLE Webinar: December 8, 2021
- Speaker- AIEG Seminar, Hidden Motor Carrier: Developing the Record and Negligent Selection of an Independent Contractor, Spring 2023
- AAJ Interstate Trucking Litigation Group
- Academy Of Truck Accident Attorneys
Office location for Peter J. Kestner
5854 Blackshire Path
Suite #2
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Phone: 866-437-1367
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2008, 2011
