who was michael peterson's attorney

by Luna Cole 5 min read

David Rudolf

Who is Michael Peterson lawyer David Rudolf?

Jul 02, 2018 · The makers of The Staircase have gotten some pushback from critics who say the true crime documentary series didn’t show enough Kathleen Peterson while covering Michael Peterson’s trial for ...

Did Michael Peterson’s attorney represent him through his murder trial?

Jun 08, 2018 · June 7, 2018. Attorney David Rudolf came to national prominence for defending Michael Peterson in his initial murder trial, which was …

What happened to Michael Peterson's wife?

Oct 11, 2021 · Michael Peterson - Lawyer in Apollo Beach, FL - Avvo. 218 Apollo Beach Blvd Apollo Beach, FL, 335722200 United States (813) 645-0966.

Where does Michael Peterson live now?

Oct 11, 2021 · Michael Peterson Peterson, Baldor & Maranges, PLLC 8000 SW 117th Ave Ste 206 Miami , FL , 33183-4809 United States (305) 270-3773 This attorney is not active on Avvo.

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Who were Michael Petersons attorneys?

US lawyer David Rudolf, who features in the documentary series The Staircase, finds Scotland's unique three-verdict legal system fascinating. Mr Rudolf is known for his defence of Michael Peterson, an author who was convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen in 2003.Nov 25, 2018

What happened to Michael Peterson lawyer?

So where is David Rudolf now? He's still a lawyer, and now he works alongside his wife, The News Observer reports. Sonya Pfeiffer went to law school shortly after the Peterson trial concluded and they're now both practicing law at Rudolf Widenhouse firm in Charlotte, North Carolina.Jul 2, 2018

How much did David Rudolf get paid?

$9.5 Million Settlement – Bridges v. David Rudolf and Sonya Pfeiffer secured a $9.5 million settlement in a wrongful conviction case against the City of Charlotte – the largest such award in history.

Who did David Rudolf represent?

Michael PetersonCriminal Defense Attorney Featured in Netflix's 'The Staircase' David Rudolf is one of the pre-eminent trial lawyers in the country, specializing in high-profile and complex criminal and civil rights cases. He has received worldwide acclaim for his representation of Michael Peterson in The Staircase on Netflix.

What does Michael Peterson do now?

Following his release from prison, Peterson has written two books detailing a behind-the-scenes account of his trial, imprisonment, and life after jail. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. ...

Did Rudolf believe Michael Peterson?

' Rudolf said it was a 'leap of faith' to let the camera crew roll on every moment of Peterson's journey, but never had any doubts they would jeopardise the case. He admitted he had agreed on 'certain conditions' with the filmmakers, but ultimately he liked that they weren't American.Feb 12, 2019

Is Rudolf still practicing?

David Rudolf — Rudolf, the lead attorney on the Peterson case, is still a practicing attorney with the Rudolf Widenhouse firm in Charlotte. On his website, Rudolf also writes an episode-by-episode “insider's view” of “The Staircase” series.Jun 13, 2018

What really happened to Kathleen Peterson?

According to the prosecution in the Michael Peterson case, Kathleen Peterson was struck on the back of her head by her husband, and she subsequently died. But during the trial, Michael Peterson's attorney said that Kathleen Peterson drank wine and Valium, which caused her to fall after becoming dizzy.Jun 2, 2021

Where is Rudolf today?

As reported by The Cinemaholic, David Rudolf and his wife Sonya Pfeiffer, who obtained her law degree after the documentary was released, currently practice law together at the Rudolf Widenhouse firm. The couple also purchased and currently run the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art in Charlotte, North Carolina.Jun 17, 2021

How old is David Rudolf?

72 years (July 2, 1949)David Rudolf / Age

What nationality is David Rudolf?

AmericanDavid Rudolf / Nationality

Is Sonya Pfeiffer still a lawyer?

He’s still a lawyer, and now he works alongside his wife, The News Observer reports. Sonya Pfeiffer went to law school shortly after the Peterson trial concluded and they’re now both practicing law at Rudolf Widenhouse firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also writes an “inside view” blog about The Staircase on his personal website that’s broken down by episode in case you’re curious about the entire 2003 trial from his point of view.

Is the staircase true crime?

Posted on July 2, 2018. The makers of The Staircase have gotten some pushback from critics who say the true crime documentary series didn’t show enough Kathleen Peterson while covering Michael Peterson’s trial for her murder. Director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade stands by that decision, saying the series is about the American judicial system and not, ...

Who is the attorney for Michael Peterson?

June 7, 2018. Attorney David Rudolf came to national prominence for defending Michael Peterson in his initial murder trial, which was chronicled first in the 2004 miniseries The Staircase. Now that Netflix will be debuting new episodes following all the twists and turns of Peterson's case, Rudolf is back in the spotlight.

Is The Staircase on Netflix?

Rudolf has seen at least some of the footage from The Staircase before — according to the Daily Beast, the doc first aired on French, British, and American television in 2004 before being reboot ed in 2013 after the sentence was vacated, and now it's being continued again on Netflix.

What happened to Michael Peterson?

EXCLUSIVE - 'Getting his story out is important for him': The Staircase lawyer David Rudolf reveals Michael Peterson is releasing 'a book about his experience in prison and the case' 1 Michael Peterson, now 75, was found guilty of the murder of his wife Kathleen in 2003 - she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 2001 2 He served eight years of a life sentence before being released on appeal due to flawed evidence 3 He was convicted of manslaughter at a retrial in 2017 after taking an Alford plea 4 The Alford plea allowed him to maintain his innocence while agreeing the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him 5 A documentary was made - and shown on Netflix - about his case and trial

Who is Michael Peterson's lawyer?

U.S. lawyer David Rudolf is known for representing Michael Peterson in true-crime documentary series, The Staircase. And the criminal defense attorney has revealed 75-year-old Peterson - who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to time served in 2017 after taking an Alford plea - has plans to release an e-book about his story.

What was the Alford plea?

He was convicted of manslaughter at a retrial in 2017 after taking an Alford plea. The Alford plea allowed him to maintain his innocence while agreeing the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him. A documentary was made - and shown on Netflix - about his case and trial. By Candice Jackson For Daily Mail Australia.

Who is the murderer in The Staircase?

The Staircase follows the case of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen, after she was found dead at the bottom of the staircase at the couple's home in Durham, North Carolina.

What happened to Michael Peterson?

Peterson was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and imprisoned. His legal team successfully fought for a retrial due to the improper actions of a key expert witness of the prosecution. Peterson later submitted an Alford plea, which entails that he plead guilty due to the evidence against him, but is still about to assert his innocence. This rare type of plea thereby secured his freedom.

How did Kathleen Peterson die?

Longtime fans of The Staircase will be very familiar with an alternate cause of Kathleen Peterson’s death dubbed “The Owl Theory.” The Owl Theory proposes that Kathleen Peterson died as the result of being attacked by an owl and subsequently hitting her head on one of the steps of the staircase. In fact, post-mortem examinations revealed that her hair contained microscopic owl feather remnants and the lacerations seemed to resemble marks that would be created by owl talons. Michael Peterson’s defense team, however, did not pursue this theory as grounds for a re-trial.

When did the stairs come out?

Portions of what eventually became the miniseries The Staircase were first aired in the summer of 2004 as part of an episode of ABC’s news magazine show Primetime Thursday . The completed miniseries first aired later that year on French television station Canal+, where it was released with the title: Soupçons (meaning: “Suspicions”). The completed series hit British and American airwaves in 2005, on BBC Four and the Sundance Channel, respectively.

Who directed the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning?

Pre-Staircase Acclaim. Before he made The Staircase, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade directed the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning, which follows the case of Brenton Butler, who was accused of murdering a tourist in Florida in the year 2000.

Is The Staircase on Netflix?

In 2018, de Lestrade released three more episodes of The Staircase, this time for Netflix. This new installment follows Peterson as he and his legal team weigh their options on whether to go through with a new trial or put forward an Alford plea. The first new Netflix episode screened at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

What is the last chance of the stairs?

In light of new developments surrounding the case, de Lestrade made a new installment to The Staircase saga in 2012, entitled The Last Chance. In this new installment, Peterson’s legal team appeal to the courts for a new trial after it comes out that bloodstain analyst Duane Deaver, who was a key witness for the prosecution, had given false and misleading testimony during the case and in other trials. Although it was initially presented as a single feature-length documentary film, it was released as two new episodes of The Staircase when it aired on American television.

Where was the house in Handmaid's Tale filmed?

The 9,500 square foot mansion in Durham, North Carolina in which Kathleen and Michael Peterson resided and where Kathleen was later found dead was a prominent filming location for the 1990 movie The Handmaid’s Tale, an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s critically acclaimed novel of the same name. Shortly after filming, the house was purchased by scholar and PBS television host Henry Louis Gates Jr., who at the time was teaching at nearby Duke University. The house is currently owned by a psychic, who ironically was not aware of the house’s history or the Peterson case when he purchased it.

I slept better at night knowing Mike Peterson was on the case!!

Mike Peterson was very professional and very thorough.....He made me feel very comfortable from beginning to end of the process.. His fees are resonable as well... 2 thumbs up, keep up the good work!!!!

Managing Partner CENTURY 21 Beggins Enterprises

We have worked with Mr. Peterson and recommended his services, many times over the past 12-15 years. Michael is very responsive and well informed. We recommend him for anyone needing a Land Use expert, who is very skilled with Hillsborough County Land Use Applications and Zoning.

Peterson lives a modest life in Durham, North Carolina, away from the media glare

Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deaver’s corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder.

Despite pleading guilty to manslaughter, Michael still asserts his innocence

His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. One of the most puzzling revelations of his trial was that in 1985, Michael was the last person to see Elizabeth Ratliff before she was discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase.

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Biography

  • He was born on July 2, 1949, in New York, New York, United States. David grew up in an upper middle class, mainly the Jewish enclave of Long Island. In 1971, he graduated from Rutgers University (Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude). In 1974, Rudolf graduated from New York University (Juris Doctor, cum laude). He has served as an Adjunct Professor at both the Universi…
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The Case of Michael Peterson

  • Michael Peterson is an American novelist who called an emergency line to report that he had just found his wife (Kathleen) unconscious in their home and suspected she had fallen down the stairs on December 9, 2001. The autopsy report concluded that the woman sustained many severe injuries, including seven lacerations to the back and top of her head and a fracture of the thyroid …
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Wife

  • David Rudolf is married to Sonya Pfeiffer, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. Currently, Sonya is a committed criminal defense lawyer who joined the firm Rudolf Widenhouse. READ MORE: Sean Larkin Net Worth
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Quotes

  • “You really have to be passionate about what we’re doing if that’s going to be rewarding to you.” “We all must resist the abuse of power and protect the rule of law.” “What’s really important is to not feel like you’re stuck in a script that you’ve prepared but rather to be listening and reacting spontaneously.” “When people see these kinds of injustices, they’re as upset by them as we are …
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David Rudolf – Net Worth

  • Rudolf earned most of his wealth from being one of the preeminent trial lawyers in the United States. David is specialized in complex and high-profile civil rights and criminal cases. He works at the Rudolf Widenhouse law firm in North Carolina. Therefore, defense lawyer David Rudolf has an estimated net worth of $2 million. READ THIS NEXT: Joe West Suit
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Overview

Michael Iver Peterson (born October 23, 1943) is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, on December 9, 2001. After eight years, Peterson was granted a new trial after the judge ruled a critical prosecution witness gave misleading testimony. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to time already served and freed.

Murder trial

On December 9, 2001, Peterson called an emergency line to report that he had just found Kathleen unconscious in their Forest Hills neighborhood home in Durham, North Carolina, and suspected she had fallen down "fifteen, twenty, I don't know" stairs. He later claimed that he had been outside by the pool and had come in at 2:40 am to find Kathleen at the foot of the stairs. Peterson said she must have fallen down the stairs after consuming alcohol and Valium.

Personal and professional life

Michael Iver Peterson was born near Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Eugen Iver Peterson and Eleanor Peterson (née Bartolino). He graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in political science. While there, Peterson was president of Sigma Nu fraternity and was editor of The Chronicle, the daily student newspaper, from 1964–1965. He attended classes at the law school of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Media

The court case generated widespread interest in part because of a televised documentary series variously named Soupçons (Suspicions), Death on the Staircase, and The Staircase, which detailed Peterson's legal and personal troubles. Eight 45-minute episodes of the documentary were assembled from more than 600 hours of footage. It was directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestradeand released by Maha Productions in October 2004. The documentary offers an inti…

Literary output

• The Immortal Dragon (New American Library, 1983) – historical fiction LCCN 2009-665719
• A Time of War (Pocket Books, 1990) – Vietnam War fiction LCCN 89-49197
• A Bitter Peace (Pocket Books, 1995) – Vietnam War fiction LCCN 94-37559

External links

• Works by or about Michael Peterson trial in libraries (WorldCat catalog)