David W.
Peterson

David Peterson’s practice primarily focuses on litigation with an emphasis on tort defense, Indian law, and commercial litigation. He has defended tort claims including wrongful death and serious personal injury cases involving electrocution, acid burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. He has also defended cases involving slip and fall personal injury claims and property damage subrogation claims. David also regularly handles a variety of commercial litigation matters including breach of contract claims, insurance coverage and bad faith insurance practices claims, antitrust claims, and attorney malpractice defense.

David has extensive experience litigating Indian law matters in tribal, state, and federal courts. He is a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association and has practiced in other tribal courts in New Mexico and Arizona including the courts of the Hopi Tribe, the Yavapai Apache Nation, and the Pueblos of Acoma, Isleta, Laguna, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Tesuque, and Zuni. Many of the Indian law cases David has handled involve jurisdictional issues including the extent of tribal, state, and federal civil adjudicatory authority and the extent of tribal authority to tax. Other Indian law cases included defense of individuals, corporations, and tribes against claims of wrongful death, personal injury, violation of constitutional rights, employment discrimination, and wrongful banishment.