Monthly Archives: June 2023

Iowa Supreme Court Examines Qualified Immunity

June 30, 2023

In 2021, the Iowa legislature codified qualified immunity in the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act for the first time. 2021 Iowa Acts ch. 183, section 14 (codified at Iowa Code Section 6704.A (2022)). The legislation codified a qualified immunity protection and also established a heightened pleading requirement for plaintiffs bringing tort claims against municipalities or […]


Attorney Spotlight: Peter J. Ickes

Peter is an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation division. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and worked at Nationwide Insurance before attending Drake University Law School. Peter became interested in law school because he was looking for a career that would provide the opportunity to make a meaningful difference and allow him […]


Iowa Supreme Court Reinforces Need for Control in Landlord Liability Action

June 5, 2023

A company called CDM Rentals, LLC, purchased a condominium in Brook Run Park in Des Moines. Shelley and Cameron Barnes began leasing the condo on September 17, 2015. The Barnes’ unit had a garage that let out onto a shared driveway. A rain gutter ran along the roof above the shared driveway. The rain gutter […]


Iowa Supreme Court Examines Claims against Municipality

Jim and Angela Sutton’s house sits near an intersection in Council Bluffs where an underground water main broke in November 2020, sending water to the Sutton’s property. The flowing water eventually became standing water and the Suttons alleged the water caused their house to settle, resulting in damage to its foundation, interior walls, garage floors, […]


Ickes Achieves Complete Victory for Homeowners

Peter Ickes obtained a victory for two married homeowners in a case arising from a dispute with their handyman. The homeowners hired the handyman to install a range hood above their stove and countertops in their kitchen. Pursuant to the agreement, the retired homeowners paid the handyman $1,700 in advance to begin work. A dispute […]