Peter L. Festa Esq.

Attorney Peter L. Festa has proudly been aggressively advocating for the rights of his clients for 29 years. Prior to establishing Festa Law Firm, Peter served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, P.J.S.C. This clerkship provided invaluable insight and a front-row seat to multiple family and criminal jury trials.  Following his clerkship,  Peter started working in private practice and was not only “hooked” on trial work, but also on jury selection, composition, the inner workings of jurors, and jury psychology. 

In January 1998, Peter opened his own firm in Paterson, New Jersey focusing on criminal, family, and personal injury work. Peter’s extensive trial experience in the criminal arena, he approaches both civil and criminal clients in the same way with the same focus. Peter has been very forthright and creative in telling clients’ stories to judges and juries. He has represented famous clients and everyday people and treats all with the same respect, vigor, and determination to obtain favorable results for each respective client. Peter has earned a reputation as a “Lawyer for the People” and explains that his “client-centric” approach and his reliance on his “results-based” brand were born early in his career and were drawn from his own early experiences. Peter is proud to announce the opening of Festa Law Firm in Totowa New Jersey.

Criminal Law Case Results:

• 2004-All criminal charges, including Temporary Restraining Order, dismissed for a licensed attorney after not guilty verdict, saving client’s criminal record and law license in State of New Jersey 
• 2007-All assault charges dismissed for a prominent lawyer alleged to have been involved in a significant physical altercation with a neighbor which resulted in serious bodily injury, saving client’s criminal record and law license in State Of New Jersey. 
• 2008-Admission into Pre-trial Intervention program for world champion professional boxer facing serious drug charges, avoiding jail time and criminal conviction, saving his criminal record and his New Jersey state boxing license; case ultimately dismissed outright 
• 2009-All theft and assault charges dismissed for another world champion professional boxer, saving his criminal record and New Jersey state boxing license 
• 2012-A three year prison sentence for client indicted under New Jersey strict liability “Drug Distribution Homicide Statute”, where client was alleged to have sold the heroin to a user that overdosed and died. The case was covered nationally and served as a model for how this seldom used statute would be applied in future
• 2013-State v. Lomus Davis- Not guilty all counts-client released from custody
• 2016-Represented witness in nationally covered Genesis Rincon homicide trial which served as inspiration for Netflix documentary “Stray Bullet”. Negotiated non-custodial probationary sentence for client in exchange for cooperation and trial testimony 
• 2018-State v. Terrell Johnson –Not guilty all counts-client released from custody 
• 2018-State v. Angel Toro- Not guilty all counts- client released from custody 
• 2018-State v. Sateesh Maharaj-Defense successfully obtained a Mistrial based upon juror misconduct and had client admitted into Pre-trial Intervention, saving his criminal record and his opportunity to reapply for his New Jersey State Pharmacists license

Personal Injury Case Results:

Peter also has obtained several significant personal injury settlements for clients when not on trial in criminal matters. He obtained an $800,000.00 settlement on behalf of a high school principal who suffered a cervical fracture. Peter also secured a $200,000.00 settlement for a combat veteran struck by a truck in a case where significant liability issues existed.

Bar Admissions:

• New Jersey, 1994
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1994

Education:

• Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Huntington, New York

                    Juris Doctorate -1994   

                    Moot Court, School and State Champion, Regional Finalist 

• William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey

                   B.A. Political Science-Magna Cum Laude-1990

Professional Associations:

• New Jersey State Bar Association, Member 
• Passaic County Bar Association, Member 
• New Jersey Association of Justice, Member

Pro Bono Activities:

• Ike & Randy’s Boxing Gym Non-Profit Org., Board Member 
• Passaic County Pro Bono Services, Member 
• Paterson All-Wags Athletics, Supporter 
• Hoop Kingz, Supporter 
• Paterson Nifty Lions, Supporter 
• Passaic County Sherriff’s Department, Guest Lecturer 
• Knights of Columbus, Member, Advocate 
• Cycle for Survival, Member, and Supporter 
• John F. Kennedy Knights Football Club, Member, and Supporter 
• Passaic County C.A.S.A. Program, Supporter and Guest Speaker 
• New Jersey State Golden Gloves, Member and Supporter 
• United States Golden Gloves, Member and Supporter