Peter Francis Geraci is a well-known attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, New York and California. He is licensed in those state courts, and also in the United States District Courts for those states, as well as varies United States Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme court. .
Peter Francis Geraci was born and raised in Chicago. He is the 4th generation of Illinois attorney in his family. His great-great grandfather, Francis A. Hoffmann, was lieutenant governor of Illinois during the Civil War, and was one of the founders of the Republican Party, being a leader of the German immigrants in Illinois who staunchly opposed slavery. Mr. Geraci's great-grandfather, Francis A. Hoffman, Jr., was corporation counsel of chicago in the 1880's, and his grandfather was a corporate attorney who received his B.A. from Knox College, and his J.D. from University of Michigan. Mr. Geraci's sister is also an attorney.
Mr. Geraci received his B.A. from DePaul University in 1971, where he was editor in chief of The DePaulia, the student newspaper. He received his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1974, and was first admitted to practice law in Illinois on May 21, 1974.
Peter Francis Geraci is married to Holly B. (Wakefield) Geraci, with whom he attended Foreman High School on the northwest side of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Geraci are supporters of many charitable organizations, and Mrs. Geraci is currently serving on the Women's Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo, and on the board of the Loretto Hospital Foundation.
Mr. Geraci's law firm, the Law Offices of Peter Francis Geraci, was founded in 1977. It has evolved from a general practice firm, to a multi-state law firm concentrating in consumer bankruptcy with about 30 offices in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Peter Francis Geraci is a member of an affiliated firm, Geraci, Arreola and Hernandez, L.L.C. concentrates in serious injury cases, work injuries, construction injuries, trucking accidents, and other serious personal injuries, across the country. Mr. Geraci is an accomplished trial attorney. His largest jury verdict to date is $6.5 million, awarded in DuPage County, Illinois, in 2003. Before that time, there were no large medical malpractice verdicts in that county. Mr. Geraci's case, on behalf of a disabled 11 year old injured at birth when his mother's care was neglected by hospital personnel, established that a properly prepared case medical malpractice case can receive a fair trial even in a staunchly conservative locale. Since that time, there have been 3 other medical malpractice verdicts larger than this case in DuPage County. The case was appealed by the defense, upheld in the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Illinois, and after exhausting appeals, the defendant paid the full verdict including every cent of interest, amounting to a recovery of over $8 million. After costs of trial and appeal and attorneys' fees, which are low in many medical malpractice cases, the guardian of the estate of the minor had on deposit almost $6 million to provide for future care for the expected life of the young disabled man.
Although Peter Francis Geraci has long practiced trial law, solely on behalf of injured persons, he is better know for his consumer bankruptcy practice. Visit the website for that bankruptcy practice for more information.