When Peter left for work that September morning, none of us could have imagined it would be his last day. He’d been around construction equipment for more than 40 years and was one of the most safety-conscious people I knew. If there were anybody to have an on-the-job accident, Peter was not the one we would’ve picked. Everyone — his family, former colleagues, current colleagues — was in shock.

He was hit by a dump truck at a downtown St. Paul construction site. Even now, it’s hard for me to talk about how it happened. I had hoped that by putting the lawsuit behind us, we’d be able to focus more on how he lived than how he died. But every holiday, every birthday, every milestone for our daughters and grandkids, Peter would have been there. He loved his family fiercely, and it is devastating not to have him with us.

When it came time to seek justice, there was never a question of who I would call. Jeff Sieben had represented Peter years earlier after another driver hit him on the job. Peter talked about how pleased he was with the way Jeff handled that case. So the morning after Peter’s death, I called Jeff at 8:30 a.m., and he was at my house by 9:15. I’d never met him before, but I knew Peter trusted him, and that was all I needed to know.

When Jeff arrived, it wasn’t just me who met with him. My two daughters and their husbands were there too. From the start, we all felt at ease. Jeff was very forthcoming about the hurdles we’d face, but he had this calm, steady presence that gave us confidence. There was no doubt in my mind that we had made the right call.

As the case went on, I became Peter’s voice. Jeff reminded me often, “You’re unlike any client I’ve ever had.” I stayed involved every step of the way, sharing any information I heard from friends or former colleagues. Jeff and his paralegal, John Gauger, never dismissed anything. They tracked down every lead, no matter how small, to see if it could help. Their due diligence was phenomenal.

When Jeff found something significant, he’d call me no matter the time, full of energy, and excited to share the latest development. Then I’d be too wound up to sleep, and I’d call him first thing in the morning to talk more. I truly felt like part of their team. I was Peter’s voice, and as an extension of that, so was Jeff.

Throughout it all, Jeff’s commitment never wavered. He took this case home, and I know it became personal for him. That care and attention meant so much. He didn’t just fight for justice for Peter; he fought to make sure no other family has to experience what we did.

When the case settled, it wasn’t about the money. Nothing could bring Peter back. But it was justice, and that was the only justice available to us. Jeff gave Peter his voice back. And he’ll always be part of our family. I’ve already sent three people his way, because when you find someone who fights that hard for what’s right, you want others to have that same chance.

–Kristi D.