Peter A. Stanford

Bar / Professional Activity

• Missouri, 1983
• Milwaukee Bar Association, Member
• Illinois State Bar Association, Member
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1983
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1986
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 1983
• Wisconsin, 1987
• Illinois, 1984

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• At the workers comp hearing, we prevailed in proving our client was permanently and totally disabled. The workers comp carrier appealed to LIRC. LIRC affirmed, awarding our client permanent and total disability benefits.    , 2025
• We appealed an ALJ's Decision to LIRC, who reversed the ALJ and awarded benefits to our client, a visiting nurse. The workers comp carrier appealed to the Circuit Court. We prevailed in the Circuit Court, dismissing the carrier's petition. We continued to prosecute the matter, and prevailed in having our client awarded future indemnity and medical benefits., 2025
• Over $200,000 settement for our client in a civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement., 2025
• Over $500,000 settlement for our client, in a civil rights claim against law enforcement., 2025
• $500,000 policy limit settlement, for our client, a motorcyclist who was struck by a motorist backing out of his driveway., 2025
• Over $2.5 Million settlement for our client following a slip and fall in the winter, combining workers compensation and third party claims., 2025
• Workers Compensation. Our client was an electrician, injured when a scissors life was lowered on to his head. He sustained orthopedic and neurologic injuries. We tried the case. Our client recovered in excess of $1.1 million in workers compensation benefits. 
• Motor Vehicle Crash. Our client, a Florida resident, was injured while operating a motor vehicle in Florida. he other driver fled the scene. We pursued an uninsured claim against our client's auto policy. The carrier denied liability. The case went to arbitration, where our client was awarded the policy limits from his unsured motorist's coverage.
• Motor Vehicle Crash. Our client was injured in a slow moving motor vehicle crash. The impact necessitated a multi-level fusion. The issue at trial were the competing medical opinions. The case settled for $250,000.
• Wrongful Death. Our client was bicycling home, in a small town. The Sheriff's son and friend were racing their pick up trucks. The boys had been drinking at the Sheriff's home. The Sheriff's son struck and killed our client. The Sheriff's Department covered up the impact and destroyed the evidence. Our private investigator found the truck in a local swamp, presumably buried there by the Sheriff's Department. The case settled the day of trial, where the policies insuring both boys paid their policy limits. 
• Workers Compensation. Our client was a bus driver. Over the years of driving he contracted a back injury. The insurance company denied the claim. We tried the case two times, and following the appeal, our client was awarded monthly benefits for the rest of his life. We also obtained an account to cover our client's future medical expenses. 
• Fall. Our client was visiting a friend. He got up in the middle of the night, and walked out a door on the second floor of the home. There was no porch. He fell 25 feet, onto a concrete slab. Our client sustained permanent orthopedic injuries. The day of trial, the case settled for the homeowner's policy limits of $500,000.
• Workers Compensation. Our client was a roofer. He fell off a roof, and sustained permanent orthopedic injuries. The claim was denied. where the insurance company alleged our client was self employed. We tried the case four times, Following the appeal, our client was awarded a judgement, where he receives monthly payments the rest of his life. 
• Motor Vehicle Crash. Our client, and her minor daughter were forced off the road by a large semi truck. Our client smashed through a mailbox, hit a tree, bounced into a cemetery and flipped her vehicle two times over a headstone. She sustained a brain injury. The truck driver and his company denied impact and fault. Our accident reconstructionist proved there was impact. The case settled for $250,000.
• Motor Vehicle Crash. Our clients were making a left turn, when the other driver struck our client's truck, causing it to flip over. Our clients sustained brain injuries. Through surveillance cameras we proved the other driver was speeding. The other driver's insurance company paid it policy limits of $200,000.
• Workers Compensation. Our client worked for a cable company. He injured his neck while wiring the Secret Service for the President's speech. The insurance company denied the claim, based upon its doctor's opinion. We tried the case twice, and following two appeals our client was awarded monthly benefits for the rest of his life. We also obtained an account to fund our client's future medical care
• Workers Compensation. Our client worked an assembly line. She sustained a low back and neck injury. The insurance company denied the claim, relying on its doctor. We tried the case three times. We were successful in recovering in excess of $1.25 million in workers compensation benefits. We also secured a $400,000 account to find her future medical needs form the injury.
• Motorcycle Accident. Our client, a Washington State resident, was operating a motorcycle ion Washington State. He was waiting to make a left turn, when another motorcyclist struck him, and left the scene. Our client's leg, ankle and foot were shattered. We settled the case for the insurance company's policy limits.
• Workers Compensation. Our client suffered a brain injury when a 400 lb. mold fell on her head. The employer denied the claim. We tried the case. The employer and its insurance company were ordered to pay in excess of $1.5 million in workers compensation benefits. In addition, our client was awarded $500,000 to fund her future medical needs from the injury.
• Wrongful Death and Declaratory Action. Our client's husband was killed, hen a minor ran a stop sign. There were three insurance companies in the case. All of them denied liability. After suit was filed, and an accident reconstruction, we settled the matter for $187,500.
• Workers Compensation. Our client was a 57 year old assembly worker. She inured her low back on the job. Her employer and insurance company denied her claim. We tried the case, and recovered in excess of $1.4 million in workers compensation benefits. 
• Workers Compensation. Our client was a 45 year old machinist. He injured his neck and shoulder on the job. The insurance company denied the claim, relying on their doctor. We tried the case, and recovered approximately $1.3 Million in workers compensation benefits. 
• Workers Compensation. Our client was a 55 year old electrician. He injured his back on the job. The insurance company denied the claim, relying on their doctor's opinion. We tried the case three times, and recovered over $1.5 million in workers compensation benefits. 
• $1.3 Million settlement. Passenger was injured in an vehicle operated by a ride share company. The ride share driver ran a stop sign. Another driver went drove into the side of the ride share vehicle, and into our client's brain. The ride share company denied liability claiming the driver was an independent contractor, and the passenger had waived is right to a jury trial when using the ride share app.
• $900,000 Electrocution settlement. Our client was a working foreman in rebuilding a shopping mall. He was electrocuted by 15,000 volts. He was electrocuted because a co-worker failed to identify a "hot box". He lived, however, underwent a series of spinal surgeries. We tried the workers compensation claim, and recovered over $1.3 Million in workers compensation benefits. In the third party claim we sued the General Contractor, and the sub contractors. After four years of litigation, we settled the matter.
• $375,000 Settlement. A worker, at a local festival, was injured while working a stage. The claim was denied under the workers compensation exclusive remedy doctrine. Following three years of litigation the matter settled. 
• $500,000 Motorcycle Crash. A motorcyclist was operating his motorcycle on a country road. Another driver was driving out of his driveway. The other driver drove into the motorcyclist's path. The motorcyclist had to put his cycle down. He sustained extensive injuries to his legs and wrist. The insurance company denied the claim. We proved through an accident reconstruction the driver was at fault. The case settled.
• $500,000 Wrongful Death. Our client was a passenger, when her vehicle was struck from behind. Our client died a few weeks later. The insurance company denied her death was related to the crash. Through medical testimony, we proved our client died from the impact. The case settled for the policy limits.
• $250,000 ATV Crash. Our client rented an ATV, which collapsed during operation. The rental company conducted a field investigation. After the investigation, the rental company threw out the ATV and the damages parts. The Court struck the insurance company's witnesses as a sanction for destroying evidence. The matter settled shortly after the Court's ruling. 
• $180,000 Bad Faith Claim. Our client's home burned to the ground. The insurance company denied coverage to our client claiming our client committed arson. We sued the insurance company for breach of contract and bad faith. After three years of investigation on our part, we proved our client did not commit arson. 
• $250,000 Uninsured Motorists. Our client, a pedestrian in a parking lot e was struck by a pick up truck, which fled the scene. The insurance company denied our uninsured motorist's claim. We hired an accident reconstructionist, to prove our client was struck by a hit and run pick up truck. Then, the insurance company moved to dismiss based upon the stature of limitations. We prevailed on a number of motions. 
• $250,000 Uninsured Motorists. Our client was struck by a semi truck while on the highway. Our client crashed into a culvert, flipped and came to rest in a field. Her insurance company denied the claim, stating the semi truck did not exist. Through accident reconstruction, we proved a semi had struck our client, causing her orthopedic and cognitive injuries. The matter settled for our client's uninsured policy limits.
• $825,000 Motor Vehicle Crash. Our client was operating a vehicle on a country road in Walworth County. Another driver ran a stop sign, crashing into the side of or client's vehicle. The vehicle flipped a number of times, before coming to rest. Our client sustained spinal injuries, which were surgically repaired. The case settled.
• $850,000 Medical Malpractice. An orthopedic surgeon used the wrong screws in repairing our client's daughter's broken hip. The surgeon and his insurance company denied the claim. The case went to trial. The case settled, before going to closing argument. 
• $865,000 Construction Worker Injury. Our client was working as a construction worker on a state highway, when he was struck and injured by a passing motorist. We tried the workers compensation claim, and recovered over $1.5 million in workers compensation benefits. In the third party lawsuit against the driver, we settled the matter, on the eve of trial.
• $400,000 Sexual Assault. Our clients' minor daughter was sexually assaulted by her teacher at her day care. The day care tried to cover up the assault. Through forensic investigation, and medical testimony, we proved our clint weas sexually assaulted by her teacher. The case settled, short of trial.
• $850,000 Sexual Assault. Our client was an elderly blind resident, living in a home for the blind. She was sexually assaulted and raped by another resident. The home destroyed the security cameras' footage. Our investigation proved the assault and rape. The case settled the day of trial.
• $1 Million Wrongful Death. Our clients were two families residing in Missouri. There sons were passengers in a vehicle operated by a driver who was impaired. Their sons did show up for work the next day. They did not come home. Their vehicle had crashed into a bridge, thrown into a pond and froze over the weekend. When the temperature got warmer, the vehicle floated to the top. We sued the driver and The Missouri Dept. of Transportation for negligently designing and building a defective bridge and culvert. We recovered the policy limits from the driver, and the statutory cap from the State.
• $500,000 Wrongful Death. Our client's mother lived in Missouri. She was operating a motorcycle. The video footage showed she ran a stop sign. The footage also showed another vehicle, which struck and killed her, was speeding. We sued the other driver and the State for not having the appropriate signage for trucks. We recovered the policy limits from the driver. We also recovered the statutory cap from the State. 

Educational Background

• Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, B.S., Major: Business Administration, cum laude, 1980

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• The article I authored, The Future of Lock Ups, After Mobil v Marathon Oil, was published, and cited by the U.S. Supreme Court as authoritative, Senior Editor, St. Louis University School of Law Review, 1983
• "Future of Lock-ups After Mobil v. Marathon Oil", St. Louis University Law Journal, February, 1983

Honors

• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• AV Preeminent* rating through Martindale-Hubbell
• Super Lawyers Honoree

“Exceptionally well prepared, knowledgeable, compassionate and a fierce advocate for his clients. A true professional. Ethical and honest.”

“Peter Stanford is a fierce and passionate lawyer. He works every day of the year, including weekends and holidays, because he cares more for his clients' well-being than his own. He stops at nothing to get the best result possible for his clients. He is the only lawyer I would want on my side, and he will always be the first lawyer I recommend to anyone in need of personal injury or worker's compensation assistance. Even at 66 years old, and 40+ years of experience, his litigation strategies continue to break ground and create new law, including this year in the worker's compensation field. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being a Super Lawyer.”

“Mr. Stanford is a very experienced and professional civil litigator.”