Peter Angelos: A Name Synonymous With Maryland Personal Injury Law
The name Peter Angelos has long been synonymous with service – and success. As an attorney for more than 60 years, he devoted his professional life to representing those who have suffered from exposure to harmful asbestos fibers, defective products, medical malpractice, environmental litigation and personal injury. Peter Angelos was always a passionate advocate and a tireless champion for Baltimore, his hometown.
From Law Student To Landmark Litigator
Peter Angelos graduated from Eastern College of Commerce and Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was class valedictorian. Beginning his practice in 1961, he was one of the first attorneys in the United States to accept and litigate asbestos cases, and he successfully represented and recovered damages for thousands of Maryland workers and their families. In addition to representing thousands of other clients in Maryland and other states, Peter represented the Maryland Building and Construction Trades Council, the Steelworkers’ Unions and other labor organizations.
Peter Angelos was chosen by the state of Maryland after a national bid process to conduct what became the state’s successful lawsuit to recover billions of dollars for Maryland from the tobacco industry. He made history again when he became one of the first to move against the industry that, for decades, manufactured and marketed paints containing toxic lead pigments that have caused, and continue to cause, poisoning in children throughout the U.S. He took on this challenge with the express goal of compelling these large corporations to pay for the abatement of lead paint in residential housing in Maryland and the rest of the country.
Civic Involvement
Mr. Angelos played an outsized role in local and state politics, sports and civic engagement.
Baltimore
Peter Angelos has a long and diverse record of civic involvement. He was elected to the Baltimore City Council from 1959 to 1963, and in 1967, he ran for mayor of Baltimore while forming the first integrated citywide ticket. In 1993, he formed a group of Marylanders to purchase the Baltimore Orioles baseball club so the team could stay in Baltimore and once again enjoy local ownership.
A Champion For Education And History
Mr. Angelos served as a member of the boards of a number of colleges, hospitals and civic organizations and has been widely honored for his commitment to higher education and civic causes. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Mount Saint Mary College, Loyola University Maryland and the University of Baltimore. He served as a member of the Business-Higher Education Forum, the Supreme Court Historical Society, the American Academy of Achievement and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Society. He was a recipient of the AFL-CIO Social Justice Award.
Representation/Boards Served
Peter Angelos served as a member of a number of institutions and foundations: Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland Medical System, the George Meany Center – National Labor College, Loyola University Maryland and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He was also a member of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Board of Visitors, the Advisory Board of the University of Baltimore Law School and the Board of Visitors of the University of Baltimore.
Awards And Honors
The Greater Baltimore Urban League presented him with its Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Award for his commitment to furthering the quality of life for the citizens of greater Baltimore. He was also honored by the NAACP, the Associated Black Charities of Maryland and the Johns Hopkins Allan L. Berman University Real Estate Institute. In 1998, The Baltimore Sun named Peter Angelos as its man of the year.
A Legal Institution That Continues To This Day
Mr. Angelos passed away on March 23, 2024. He was a legal institution in his own right, but he also founded and led Peter Angelos Law. Although he is no longer with us, the firm that he established will continue to serve the people of Maryland and beyond. Our team of 19 attorneys brings more than 500 years of combined experience to each case and client, and we are proud to carry on the important work of advocating for injury victims and the greater public good.