Peter Francis Geraci

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Peter Francis Geraci is a prominent Chicago-based bankruptcy attorney and television pitchman.

A graduate of DePaul University,^[1] Geraci is best-known for promoting his "24-hour bankruptcy info tapes" on local television commercials. Though the commercials have been described as "dry-as-a-bone"^[2] due to their sober tone, their long presence on television has turned Geraci into a household name throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. His face has even appeared on novelty t-shirts,^[3] and he has been a frequent subject of discussion on talk radio programs^[4] and on the Internet.

Geraci's firm has claimed to be the largest personal bankruptcy practice in the United States.^[5] In 1998, the United States Trustee Program accused the firm of overcharging clients,^[6] but United States Bankruptcy Judge Robert E. Ginsberg threw out the charges, which were based upon a single case.^[5] Geraci's lawyer later accused the government of performing a "witch-hunt."^[5] In 2003, Geraci filed suit against other bankruptcy firms in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana who used the phrase "info tapes" in their advertising, claiming that his firm owned the trademark for the phrase. He also demanded that the Yellow Pages remove all advertisements for competing firms who used the phrase. ^[7]

[edit] Notes

^ http://www.chapter7king.com/. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
^ Neumer, Alison. "BUDGET BUSTERS: He knows all about bankruptcy". RedEye. 14 April 2004.
^ http://www.onmilwaukee.com/market/articles/goushatee.html. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
^ http://www.dahl.com/show_logs/2005/04/05.asp. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Simpson, Cam. "Lawyer prevails over feds; Bankruptcy judge sides with TV pitchman Geraci". Chicago Sun-Times. 9 April 1998
^ Simpson, Cam. "Bankruptcy lawyer rung up; Geraci clients overcharged, U.S. contends". Chicago Sun-Times. 15 March 1998.
^ "Geraci launches trademark suit". Chicago Sun-Times 10 June 2003.