Peter Doherty

Peter Doherty has over 25 years of litigation experience handling complex liability cases, in both the state and federal courts. His experience includes defending state court actions in the district courts of Colorado as well as practicing before the United States District Court of Colorado and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Peter’s practice focuses on federal civil rights claims, employment discrimination claims, professional malpractice and personal injury claims.

Peter has been lead counsel in the defense of several hundreds of cases, with over 30 trials, including jury trials, trials to the court, administrative hearings, and Trinity Broadcasting evidentiary hearings. His experience includes over 40 appellate cases, with over twenty published decisions in both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court and six published decisions from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Work History

Peter brings a strong work ethic, considerable experience, and creativity to resolving his client’s cases and legal disputes. Peter has over 25 years of litigation experience handling complex liability cases, in both the state and federal courts. His experience includes defending state court actions in the district courts of Colorado as well as practicing before the United States District Court of Colorado and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. His practice focuses on federal civil rights claims, employment discrimination claims, professional malpractice and personal injury claims.

Peter has been lead counsel in the defense of several hundreds of cases, with over 30 trials, including jury trials, trials to the court, administrative hearings, and Trinity Broadcasting evidentiary hearings. His experience includes over 40 appellate cases, with over twenty published decisions in both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court and six published decisions from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients in both Nebraska and Wyoming state courts.

Peter joined Lasater & Martin in 2014 following partnerships at two other successful insurance defense firms. His practice remains diverse and includes both private clients and insurance defense work.

Peter’s specialties include the defense of civil rights claims, employment claims, discrimination charges, professional malpractice defense for architects, engineers, pharmacists, as well as a number of professionals, including assisted living facilities. Peter also has over two decades of experience working with churches, religious schools, and nonprofits with respect to employment issues, physical misconduct claims, internal investigations, discrimination claims, mandatory reporting, and other state compliance issues, as well as safe environment training for nonprofits. His work with churches and religious organizations also included defending issues under the U.S. Constitution, including the Free Exercise Clause and Establishment Clause.

In addition to the general litigation practice, Peter has represented a number of municipalities and other government entities, including cases involving claims of constitutional violations and employment-related cases. His work on behalf of government entities has included government immunity, defense of violations of procedural due process, substantive due process, liberty interests, First Amendment free speech and assembly claims, as well as claims of unconstitutional takings and excessive force claims.

Education

  • University of Minnesota School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1989.
  • Creighton University, Bachelor Degree, 1985.

Bar Admission

  • State of Colorado
  • State of Nebraska
  • United States District of Colorado
  • United States District Court District of Nebraska
  • Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations

  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Nebraska Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute

Reported Cases

  • Peter Doherty has over twenty published decisions in both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court and six published decisions from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, there are over 35 additional published decisions and orders from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

Community Service

  • For over twenty years, Peter has been fortunate to be able to provide pro bono services and volunteer as a member of the Advisory Board for the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged, a Catholic Charity that has been helping the poor and elderly in Colorado since 1917.
  • Through his membership with the Nebraska Bar, Peter has been a proud member of the Nebraska Bar Diversity Section since its formation.

Publications

  • P. Doherty, “Qualified Immunity in Police Use of Force Claims,” 22 Colo. Law. 983 (May 1993);
  • P. Doherty, “Recent Developments in the Law of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage,” 22 Colo. Law. 2273 (October 1993), republished in Westlaw database Journals & Law Reviews;
  • P. Doherty, “Recent Developments in Governmental Immunity: Post Trinity Broadcasting,” 25 Colo. Law. 43 (June 1996)