Divorce Attorney Killed By Former Client

Issues stemming from a divorce case and unpaid attorney fees resulted in the murder of a Nebraska family lawyer by a former client.

Nebraska divorce attorney Todd V. Elsbernd, 52, was fatally shot by a high-powered rifle outside his law office on November 13, 2013, by former client Michael Petersen, 58. The body of Petersen’s former wife was discovered on November 14, 2013. The Buffalo County’s attorney intends to charge Michael Petersen with first-degree murder in both deaths.

Elsbernd had represented defendant Michael Petersen, 58, in a 2005 family law case against his former wife, Nancy Peterson, 58. The two men continued to dispute over unpaid lawyer fees, and in 2009 Petersen apparently unsuccessfully tried to sue Elsbernd for malpractice, seeking over $57,000 in attorney fees.

A partner in the law firm of Bradley, Elsbernd, Andersen, Kneale & Jankovitz, Elsbernd had just celebrated his 25th anniversary of being a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association just previous to his death. “He was a dear friend and well-respected lawyer. He fought hard for his clients and was respected within the legal community for competence and honesty.”

Categories: Divorce News & Views

Tags: family and divorce lawyers

Published on: November 21, 2013

About the Author

Diana Shepherd, CDFA®

Diana Shepherd has over 30 years of experience as a marketing, branding, SEO, copywriting, editing, and publishing expert. As Content Director for Family Lawyer Magazine, Divorce Magazine, and Divorce Marketing Group, she oversees all corporate content development and frequently creates SEO-friendly videos, podcasts, and copy for family law and financial firms. The Co-Founder of Divorce Magazine and Divorce Marketing Group, Diana is an award-winning editor, published author, and a nationally recognized expert on divorce, remarriage, finance, and stepfamily issues. She has written hundreds of articles geared towards both family law professionals and divorcing people, and she has both performed and taught on-page SEO for 20+ years. Diana spent eight years as the Marketing Director for the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts® (IDFA®), and she has been a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® since 2006. While at IDFA, she wrote, designed, and published The IDFA Marketing Guide, and she also created seminars for CDFA professionals to present to family lawyers (approved for CLE), as well as to separated and divorcing individuals. She has represented both DMG and IDFA at industry conferences and events across North America, and she has given marketing as well as divorce financial seminars at many of those conferences.