When one spouse stays hands-off on the finances, it’s easy to get caught off-guard by a death or illness. Here’s how to get up to speed. By Anne Tergesen Gary Altman, an estate-planning attorney in Rockville, Md., recently had a client turn to her brother-in-law to cover bills after her husband died. The client had […]

Iowa’s workers’ compensation law will be changing for idiopathic falls. This change will go into effect on July 1, 2019. Therefore, work injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2019, will be subject to the new law. Iowa Code Section 85.61(7) was amended to further define “personal injuries arising out of and in the course […]

Plaintiff and Defendant were business associates, who had an oral agreement regarding a salvage yard business. Plaintiff locked Defendant out of the business and filed suit for breach of an oral contract. Plaintiff also obtained a temporary injunction that prevented Defendant from returning to the business property, where many of Defendant’s tools, equipment, and inventory […]

On March 1, 2015, Brett Weichers (Plaintiff) was assaulted by two men who had consumed alcohol at several establishments, including Tony’s La Pizzeria (Defendant). Plaintiff filed a dram shop suit against Defendant (and two other bars) seeking damages for the injuries he sustained from the assault and alleging that Defendant ‘“sold and/or served beer, wine, […]

A hail and wind storm damaged Gregg Whigham’s home in March 2016. The home was insured by The Cincinnati Insurance Company (Cincinnati). After the storm, Gregg contracted 33 Carpenters Construction, Inc. (33 Carpenters) for the repair of his home. Per their agreement, 33 Carpenters would repair Gregg’s house and, in exchange, would receive the right […]

In 1997, Jay and Lorrie Lala, husband and wife, created a limited liability company, Parker House, to hold various investment and personal properties, including a farmhouse that was purchased for investment purposes. The farmhouse was kept furnished although no one lived there. The Lalas occasionally used it to host business and public events. They also […]

On March 6, 2019, Aaron Lindebak obtained a defense verdict for his client. Lindebak represented the defendant (a hotel) in the lawsuit. The plaintiff, who was a guest at the hotel, slipped and fell in a shower. The plaintiff alleged the hotel was negligent. Following the presentation of the plaintiff’s case, Lindebak moved for directed […]

Investors may be excited to learn that annual contribution limits to IRAs increased this year for the first time since 2013. Last fall, the IRS announced that beginning in 2019, the annual contribution limit to IRAs would increase to the lesser of one’s earned income for the year or $6,000 ($7,000 for individuals age 50 […]

Many business owners choose to organize their businesses as separate legal entities such as corporations or LLCs. There are many advantages for doing so, but one of the primary advantages a corporation or an LLC provides a business owner is limited liability protection.  This means that, generally, if a plaintiff wins a lawsuit against a […]

   Plaintiff brought suit on behalf of decedent’s estate following decedent’s death.  Decedent received care for a fracture and, following placement of screws in her ankle, developed MRSA.  As a result of the infection, the physicians amputated the leg.  Plaintiff alleges medical malpractice due to failures with the surgery, monitoring of the ankle, and failing […]