DONALD E. PETERSEN Since 1988, Donald E. Petersen has practiced law in Florida. Mr. Petersen's practice focuses on representing consumers in Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court, and Florida's state trial courts. Many of Mr. Petersen's clients are saving their homes through protection in Bankruptcy. The law firm and its staff are proud to represent families who seek to save their homes from foreclosure. Many of our other consumer clients need protection from their creditors outside of bankruptcy. Mr. Petersen's trial practice focuses on representing consumers in state and federal courts in actions against lenders, credit reporting agencies, furnishers of false credit information, and abusive collection agencies. Sometimes, it is advisable to bring these actions in Bankruptcy Court or as a separate action in state or federal court while the Bankruptcy is pending. THOMAS S. RICE KRISTINA ALTIZER
LAW OFFICES OF DONALD E. PETERSEN
The vast majority of Mr. Petersen's litigation and trial practice have been cases seeking to protect the consumers, employees, and taxpayers from fraudulent or deceptive schemes perpetuated by powerful corporations.
For example, Mr. Petersen represents relators (also known as "whistleblowers") in qui tam actions. In 1998, the United States of America and two of Mr. Petersen's clients entered into a settlement with Charter Medical Corporation whereby Charter agreed to pay the U.S. and the relators $ 4,758,000 after four years of intense litigation. Another action resulted in a judgment in excess of $ 44,000,000 against a physician who controlled several mental health programs that defrauded the Medicare program. Mr. Petersen speaks and writes for national audiences about detecting, preventing, punishing and deterring health care fraud.
Mr. Petersen also represents consumers in actions arising from fraud (e.g., actions against automobile dealers). Prior to establishing his own practice, Mr. Petersen worked for a 40 attorney firm where he represented federal banking agencies in civil fraud and negligence actions against directors, officers, appraisers, investment bankers, brokers, attorneys and other professionals. One of these civil investigations assisted prosecutors in obtaining convictions against three commercial borrowers.
Mr. Petersen represents consumers in pre-filing negotiations and state court actions arising from identity theft, inaccurate credit reports, unauthorized access to credit reports, predatory home loans, truth in lending violations, fraudulent automobile sales practices, and similar fraudulent practices by lenders, creditors, credit reporting agencies and debt collectors. Mr. Petersen also represents many consumers in Bankruptcy Court in all phases of Bankruptcy.
Mr. Petersen is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the Consumer Law Section of the Florida Bar, the National Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association, the Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association, and other organizations that support consumer and debtor rights. Mr. Petersen speaks to consumers and attorneys about credit reporting, homeowner protection, and other consumer oriented issues.
In 1988, Mr. Petersen graduated, with honors, from the School of Law at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Mr. Petersen served as project editor on Law & Contemporary Problems. Soon after graduation, Mr. Petersen was admitted to practice Law in Florida.
Beginning in 1980 and continuing through 1985, Mr. Petersen was a program planner for Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace. Mr. Petersen designed the costs collection system for the Low Altitude Navigation/Targeting Infrared for Night ("LANTIRN") program and devised the production schedule for the LANTIRN target pod.
Mr. Petersen received his Bachelors in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida in 1980. In 1984, Mr. Petersen received a Masters in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from Rollins College where his studies focused on finance.
Mr. Petersen's interests include reading and discussing a wide range of nonfiction subjects. Mr. Petersen is also active in local political movements and environmental causes. Mr. Petersen is also an avid fan of Duke's basketball team and many of the delta and Chicago blues artists. Mr. Petersen also enjoys kayaking on Florida's streams.
Thomas Seville Rice has practiced law in Florida since 1985. Mr. Rice has represented in excess of two or three thousand clients in Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Rice has been of counsel to Mr. Petersen since 1995. In 1975, Mr. Rice received his Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy from Stetson University. Mr. Rice received his Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University in 1984.
Mr. Rice was raised in South Carolina and in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Rice is active in Masonic organizations and charities including the Shriner's, Scottish Rite, and is a past master of the Eola Lodge F. & A. M., in Orlando, Florida.
Kristina Altizer has been a paralegal with the law firm since 1994. Ms. Altizer received her Associates in Arts, with honors, from Seminole Community College where she studied paralegal sciences. Ms. Altizer assists the attorneys in all phases of Bankruptcy and litigation.
Ms. Altizer and her husband are the proud parents of a son born in June, 2001. The Altizers also enjoy their two parrots and are active in obedience and agility training of their two dogs, a Labador Retriever and a Marimma Sheepdog.