After four decades of successfully representing plaintiffs and defendants in serious personal injury and wrongful death suits, and a variety of high exposure lawsuits and appeals, Peter James Johnson (known to colleagues and clients as “Pete”) is now representing New Yorkers and their families who have been profoundly damaged by the conduct of others.
Today, Pete Johnson, who has long received the AV Preeminent® rating through Martindale-Hubbell® for his litigation and appellate skills, has been selected to New York Super Lawyers® in the field of general litigation for the 19th year in a row.
As a lawyer, Pete has championed life-changing health, safety and benefit reforms for first responders including the Caring for our Police and Survivors (COPS) laws and has won substantial monetary awards for injured New York City firefighters and police officers and their survivors.
He has also won substantial recoveries for many other New Yorkers and their families injured or killed by the negligence of others.
Inspired by the tradition of public service and courtroom excellence of his legendary trial lawyer father whose name he bears, Pete has worked hard to give back to the city and state he loves so much.
A graduate of Columbia University Law School, he has held significant positions in government. As a trustee of major charitable and social service organizations including a downtown hospital and a midtown cancer center, he has supported the needs of children and the healthcare of New Yorkers. He served as senior advisor to the historic Mayor David N. Dinkins and as an aide, advisor and economic development executive for the late Governor Mario M. Cuomo, where he worked on the redevelopment of Times Square and the building of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. He has also served on or led various state and city panels, boards and commissions on attorney admissions and discipline, judicial selection, jail conditions and voting reform. The Catholic Interracial Council, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Defense Association of New York have each honored his accomplishments as a “bridge builder.” He is proud to be an honorary deputy chief of the FDNY.
He’s most proud of being a lawyer, and of the obligation and the ability it confers to win just compensation for the injured. Leahey & Johnson, P.C. has beein doing that since 1953.
Pete, summarizes his litigation philosophy drawing on his late father’s roots as a neighborhood lawyer, community and labor reformer and legendary advocate: