Attorneys Guy Cook, Adam Zenor, and Holli Andresen obtained a dismissal of a dram shop action against two local businesses – Alpine Tap and Beechwood Lounge.  Defendants filed a Pre-Answer Motion to Dismiss based on Plaintiff’s failure to take the affirmative steps necessary to preserve her dram shop claim.  The Court agreed with Defendants and […]

Mark Thomas and Laura Martino successfully defended a banker at trial accused of breach of contract by his former employer.  After working four and one half years at First American Bank, Nick Moser left to take a job opportunity with Great Western Bank.  A little over a month later, his previous employer served him with […]

This negligence case arose out of an injury Plaintiff sustained while riding a moped in the early morning hours.  Plaintiff collided into an end loader parked in the street by Defendant Simpson.  Plaintiff sustained a serious head injury as a result of the accident.  After an issue with failure to follow jury instructions at the […]

This case stems from a commercial construction dispute between MLP Management, LLC (MLP) and Westlake Investments, LLC (Westlake), which ended in a consent judgment in favor of Westlake.  The excess insurer for MLP, National Surety Corporation (NSC), appealed on the issues of the district court’s interpretation of the term “occurrence” in the policy and ultimately, […]

Gethmann Construction Company (Gethmann) appealed a district court decision finding that United Fire and Casualty Company (United Fire) owed no duty to defend Gethmann in an underlying lawsuit alleging negligence.  The initial lawsuit alleged negligence against Gethmann (the general contractor) and American Piping Group, Inc. (APG) (the subcontractor).  APG had obtained insurance though United Fire […]

Nationwide scams against taxpayers continue to grow and evolve.  Scammers, posing as the IRS, attempt to trick taxpayers into making false tax payments directly to them or providing them with the taxpayer’s personal information. The IRS reports that since October 2013, its Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has received reports of roughly 600,000 […]

Having an updated estate plan is an important step for individuals at any stage of their life; however, later in life, there are additional concerns that should also be addressed and planned for to make for a smooth transition into retirement age and beyond. Retirement.  It is important throughout your career to discuss your retirement […]

Powers of Attorney are a great planning tool and while most commonly used in the case of one’s incapacity can in fact be useful in many situations. A Power of Attorney authorizes another person, your agent, to act on your behalf.  A Power of Attorney can be executed at any time so long as you […]

This case involved a dog bite injury to a child who was under the childcare services of the insured.  Grefe & Sidney attorneys Mark Thomas and Laura Martino obtained a declaratory judgment ruling in district court, which held there was no coverage under the insured’s homeowner’s policy due to the “business pursuits” and “childcare services” […]

Marriott appealed a jury verdict which awarded Plaintiff damages for a slip and fall at the Marriott hotel in Bettendorf, IA.  Marriott argued the jury should have been instructed on the “continuing storm doctrine,” which generally allows businesses, landlords, carriers, or other inviters to wait until the end of a storm and a reasonable time […]