Monthly Archives: June 2020

Mark Thomas and Henry Harmon Successfully Defend Anhydrous Ammonia Product Liability Action

June 22, 2020

After years of litigation, including a trip to the Court of Appeals and back, and a two-week trial, the Court of Appeals affirmed the jury’s decision in Nationwide Agribusiness v. PGI, et al. to dismiss the claims against all defendants.  The lawsuit originated with the tragic death of a Boone County farmer who was overcome […]


Iowa Supreme Court Expands Government Liability

On August 30, 2015, Kathryn Breese and her nine-year-old daughter were riding their bicycles through Dankwardt Park in Burlington, Iowa.  While inadvertently riding on a sewer box that was connected to a public pathway, Breese struck a tree and lost control of her bicycle, falling ten feet to the ground, resulting in injuries.  Plaintiffs alleged […]


Trials and Hearings Recommence

The Iowa Supreme Court, in a May 22, 2020 supervisory order, ordered that all jury trials shall be continued to a date no earlier than September 14, 2020.  The Court outlined the priority of cases in its May 22, 2020 supervisory order: emergency matters, criminal cases, and family law matters are given priority.  Proceedings not […]


COVID-19 Related Litigation

Grefe & Sidney is already handling Coronavirus/COVID-19 related litigation.  Countless businesses have been affected by this pandemic, causing disruptions with both demand and supply.  Our firm is involved in defending claims that business interruption clauses contained in many insurance policies should be triggered by pandemic related/government ordered closures.  In addition, the first of what is […]


Iowa Legislature Addressed PEXA rule

The Iowa legislature has revised the”PEXA” rule established in Pexa v. Auto Owners Insurance Co., 686 N.W.2d 150 (Iowa 2004). The Pexa case provided that a jury, in personal injury cases, could consider both the charged amount and the actual amount of past medical bills paid when determining how much to award for past medical expenses. Senate File 2338, […]


Grefe & Sidney Offices to Open June 22 as Directed by Governor

Our attorneys and legal staff have been working remotely through our secure remote access program during the Covid-19 outbreak.  Our team is excited to announce that almost all Grefe & Sidney employees will be returning to the office starting June 22, as authorized by Governor Reynolds.  Grefe & Sidney remains committed to providing high quality […]