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 […]

Anita Dhar Miller and Ben Erickson successfully defended an individual against multiple claims, including defamation, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After an immense amount of discoverable information was exchanged between the parties, Miller and Erickson moved for summary judgment, asserting a number of affirmative defenses afforded to their client by Iowa law.  […]

Mark Thomas recently obtained a defense verdict in the case of Farley v. Edmonds. Mr. Farley was employed by Ms. Edmonds to trim tree branches overhanging her home. He was severely injured in that process where he fell off the roof and brought suit against the defendant for failure to warn of purportedly defective shingles […]

Michael Currie successfully defended his client against an $850,000.00 breach of contract claim. A plaintiff claimed that the defendant insurance company unlawfully denied coverage for loss to the façade of his house, indisputably caused by long term water intrusion to the same. Currie argued the loss was excluded by the plain terms of the policy, […]