Theresa Seeberger evicted a tenant following her discovery of the tenant’s pregnancy. As a result, the tenant sought protection from the Davenport Civil Rights Commission. Following adjudication at the administrative level and an appeal to the district court, the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and Seeberger appealed the district court ruling that (1) Seeberger’s statements […]
The Iowa Supreme Court determines that the Iowa Department of Transportation did not have the authority from the legislature to issue rules regulating the use of automated traffic enforcement (ATE) systems. As such, the Court found that the IDOT’s rules regulating where cities could place ATE systems was invalid and unenforceable. The cities of […]
A new law went into effect this year that provided for the creation of First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts (FTHSA.) These accounts are special savings accounts that allow for tax deductions to the account holder. In order to qualify as a FTHSA, the account holder, upon opening the account, must designate a beneficiary of the account […]
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a “triple-tax-advantaged” medical savings account available to taxpayers enrolled in High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP.) It allows taxpayers to use funds from the account to pay for certain qualified medical expenses. An HSA is simply a special type of savings account that can be used to pay for qualified healthcare […]
In December, President Trump signed a new tax bill into law. One noticeable change was the doubling of the standard deduction. This means that for single taxpayers, the standard deduction has increased to $12,000. For married taxpayers who file a joint tax return with their spouse, and for taxpayers who file as a “Surviving Spouse,” […]
In November, 2014, a squirrel entered an electrical substation owned by the City of West Liberty, Iowa and, after climbing on equipment, caused a completed circuit and thereafter electrical arc resulted in substantial damage to the City’s electrical substation. Following the damage, the City submitted a claim to Employers Mutual Casualty Company (EMC). EMC denied […]
Patricia Georgesen started a small business named Derby Insurance Agency (Derby), a subchapter S corporation, in 1991. Her husband also worked at Derby Insurance. In 1998, Joanne Cote began working at Derby as a customer service representative. On October 12, 2012, Derby sold its assets, goodwill, and book of business to Derby Insurance Services, Inc. […]
Please join us in welcoming to Grefe and Sidney’s Litigation Division, AnneMarie Spellman McDevitt. Her practice includes general civil litigation and workers’ compensation matters. AnneMarie represents employers, insurers and claimants before the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and a graduate of Creighton University School of Law. AnneMarie […]
Oliver Fenceroy was employed at Gelita USA, Inc., where he began working in 1975. In 2013, he left the company and filed an administrative complaint and ultimately a civil suit charging Gelita with race discrimination. Fenceroy alleged that there were a number of workplace incidents involving racially disparaging comments by employees. During Fenceroy’s employment, Gelita […]
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 […]
