Legal Focus
My practice is focused on personal injury, appeals, insurance, construction, products liability, municipal, and civil rights.
My clients are generally located in the western half of Iowa and the Council Bluffs/Omaha metro area. However, I regularly have cases throughout Iowa and Nebraska and extend my practice to Western South Dakota. I have many years of experience litigating cases and in state and federal courts within the Eighth Circuit. One of my cases has been argued before the Supreme Court of the United States.
I am also regularly called upon to consult or serve as local counsel.
Bar Admissions
| • U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota | June 25, 2018 |
| • South Dakota | May 2, 2018 |
| • U.S. Supreme Court | March 17, 2008 |
| • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit | April 15, 2002 |
| • U.S. District Court District of Nebraska | March 29, 2002 |
| • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa | April 4, 2002 |
| • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa | April 1, 2002 |
| • Nebraska | November 8, 2000 |
| • Iowa | September 11, 2000 |
Elected Positions
| • Board of Education of the Lewis Central School District | 2009 – 2017 (two terms) | |
| • Commissioner of the West Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation District |
One term in the early 2000’s |
Community Involvement
| • Southwest Regional Office Advisory Council for Iowa Legal Aid | Chair July 2015 – 2018
Member 2014 – 2018 |
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| • Children’s Square USA Board of Directors | 2011 – 2017 | |
Legal Service
| • American Bar Association | Council Member-at-large GPSolo Division 2016 – 2017 Committee member corporate sponsorship 2015 – 2017 |
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| • Iowa State Bar Association | Member 2000 – Present
Board of Governors 2012 – 2019 |
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| • Iowa State Bar Review School, Inc., and committee of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Iowa Bar Association | Member 1997 – 2010
President 2004 – 2008 |
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| • Southwest Iowa Lawyer League | Member 2000 – Present | |
| • Pottawattamie County Bar Association | Member 2000 – Present
President 2009 – 2010 Vice-President 2008 – 2009 |
Publications/Presentations
| • Southwest Iowa Lawyer League – Is Your Tablet, Phone, or other Device Protecting Confidential Client Information? (and other ethical technology concerns) | March 4, 2016 | |
| • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Institute, Issues and Strategies for the Trial Lawyer – Is Your Tablet, Phone, or other Device Protecting Confidential Client Information? | February 26, 2016 | |
| • Pottawattamie County Bar Association – Sole Practitioner Rules: Iowa Rule 39.18 & 45.11 | January 15, 2016 | |
| • Iowa Fourth Judicial District Bench Bar Conference – 2015 Appellate Case Law Review | October 26, 2015 | |
| • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Institute co-presented with George Davidson – Appellate Case Law Update (Opinions of the Court of Appeals) | February 22, 2013 | |
| • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Institute co-presented with George Davidson – Appellate Case Law Update (Opinions of the Court of Appeals) | February 24, 2012 | |
| • Iowa County Attorney Training Conference – Prosecutorial Immunity | November 11, 2011 | |
| • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Institute – Motion Practice | February 25, 2010 |
Honors
| • Super Lawyers – Insurance Law | 2017 – Present | |
| • American Board of Trial Advocates – Member | 2016 – Present | |
| • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys | 2016 – Present | |
| • Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Foundation | 2014 – Present | |
| • Fellowship in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers | 2012 – Present | |
| • Martindale Hubble AV Preeminent Ranking | 2011 – Present | |
| • Lawyers.com 5.0 out of 5.0 Client Reviews | 2011 – Present | |
| • Council Bluffs 20 under 40 | August 2009 | |
| • Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyer Award of Merit | June 2008 |
