News

Laura Martino and Ryleigh Keeney Granted Summary Judgment on Behalf of Insurer

November 2, 2022

Laura Martino and Ryleigh Keeney obtained summary judgment on behalf of their client, State Farm, in a breach of contract and bad faith action in the Northern District of Iowa. The plaintiff, State Farm’s insured, claimed she sustained injuries arising out of a 2016 motor vehicle accident. She settled with the tortfeasor for policy limits […]


Ben Erickson Obtains Favorable Jury Verdict

September 30, 2022

Attorney Ben Erickson recently obtained a favorable jury verdict on behalf of his client. The case arose out of a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Des Moines. Although Erickson’s client admitted he was negligent in causing the accident, the parties disputed the nature and extent of the Plaintiff’s injuries. On September 26, 2022, the […]


Laura Martino Obtains Directed Verdict in Personal Injury Action

Attorney Laura Martino obtained a directed verdict on behalf of her clients in a personal injury action. The case arose out a motor vehicle accident in Des Moines in 2019. Following the close of the Plaintiff’s case, Martino moved for a directed verdict asserting the Plaintiff had failed to provide substantial evidence with respect to […]


Laura Martino Wins UIM Case

Attorney Laura Martino recently successfully defended State Farm in an underinsured motorist case at trial. The Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident in 2019. The Plaintiff settled with the tortfeasor for policy limits. The Plaintiff filed suit against State Farm alleging breach of contract and bad faith. The bad faith claim was dismissed […]


Iowa Supreme Court Explores the Definition of a “Possessor” Under Iowa Premises Liability Law

September 1, 2022

In July 2020, Plaintiff filed suit in the Dallas County District Court seeking damages after she slipped on an icy driveway of a home that she was considering purchasing. Shortly after filing her original Petition Plaintiff filed an amended Petition naming the homeowners and the homeowners’ listing agency, Iowa Realty Company, Inc. (“Iowa Realty”), as […]


Ben Erickson Obtains Summary Judgment on Behalf of Local Restaurant

Ben Erickson obtained summary judgment on behalf of a local restaurant sued for negligence. The case arose from a slip and fall injury on the restaurant’s premises. Specifically, Plaintiff alleged the restaurant was negligent in the maintenance and upkeep of its dining area. After conducting discovery, Ben moved for summary judgment, arguing Plaintiff (1) failed […]


Aaron Lindebak Obtains Majority Fault Verdict Against Third Party Defendant

Aaron Lindebak successfully defended Nancy McKillip in a motor vehicle accident case at trial. Plaintiff Mark Simmons and Defendant McKillip were involved in a car accident in Dubuque in 2018. Simmons alleged that McKillip was negligent for failing to stop or yield at a stop sign. After investigation, Aaron brought in to the lawsuit Defendant […]


Attorney Spotlight: Rachel Morgan

August 2, 2022

Rachel is in an associate attorney at Grefe & Sidney. She attended Drake University Law School where she graduated with high honors. While at Drake, Rachel worked as a research assistant and was a student attorney in the Criminal Defense Program and the Wrongful Convictions Clinic of the Drake Legal Clinic. Rachel was raised in […]


Iowa Supreme Court Expands Protections for Confined Animal Feeding Operations

Plaintiff Gordon Garrison owned and lived on 300 acres of farmland in northern Iowa. In 2015, Defendants New Fashion Pork and BWT Holdings began operating a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) approximately a half mile away from Plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff alleged that his property began experiencing consistent bad odors and manure drainage, both produced by […]


Tansha Akogyeram Secures Dismissal in Underinsured Motorist Case

Tansha Akogyeram secured the dismissal of an underinsured motorist (UIM) action against Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois (“Safeco”) in June. The UIM action resulted from a 2019 hit-and-run accident in Des Moines while the Plaintiff was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle. Plaintiff filed suit against the rideshare company’s insurer and Safeco for UIM benefits. […]