Monthly Archives: March 2018

IOWA SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER DISTRICT COURT MAY REVIEW APPRAISAL BOARD’S FACTUAL FINDINGS

March 2, 2018

On February 13, 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Walnut Creek Townhomes Association v. Depositers Insurance Company. The case is up on further review from a decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals that ruled the trial court erred in rejecting an award of an appraisal board, invoked under the terms of […]


MILLER AND ERICKSON WIN SUMMARY JUDGEMENT IN MULTI-ISSUE LAWSUIT

Anita Dhar Miller and Ben Erickson successfully defended an individual against multiple claims, including defamation, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After an immense amount of discoverable information was exchanged between the parties, Miller and Erickson moved for summary judgment, asserting a number of affirmative defenses afforded to their client by Iowa law.  […]


THOMAS OBTAINS DEFENSE VERDICT FOR HOMEOWNER

Mark Thomas recently obtained a defense verdict in the case of Farley v. Edmonds. Mr. Farley was employed by Ms. Edmonds to trim tree branches overhanging her home. He was severely injured in that process where he fell off the roof and brought suit against the defendant for failure to warn of purportedly defective shingles […]


CURRIE WINS SUMMARY JUDGEMENT

Michael Currie successfully defended his client against an $850,000.00 breach of contract claim. A plaintiff claimed that the defendant insurance company unlawfully denied coverage for loss to the façade of his house, indisputably caused by long term water intrusion to the same. Currie argued the loss was excluded by the plain terms of the policy, […]


IOWA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ENFORCEABILITY OF SURROGACY CONTRACTS

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the decision of the Iowa District Court for Linn County, upholding the enforceability of surrogacy contracts in Iowa. This case presented a number of issues of first impression in the state: are agreements between private individuals and gestational carriers (surrogacy contracts) enforceable under Iowa law, or void as against […]