Iowa is on the cusp between fall and winter. It is this mixed cold weather that brings new snow and ice that will soon melt, thaw, and refreeze. And, of course, with refreezing comes an increased risk of falling due to slippery surfaces. What can you do to protect your business from a personal injury [...]
In today’s challenging environment, being a director on the board for a for-profit business, a nonprofit organization, or a homeowner’s association can be difficult, even for experienced leaders. During difficult financial times, directors and officers and their actions are likely to be under increased scrutiny. Because hindsight is always 20/20, it’s important to know what [...]
Allowing employees personal use of company vehicles is costly. Chiefly, accidents are expensive. But there are other costs to consider too - uninsured costs, lost staff time, lost revenue, and insurance costs. Hedging these costs is possible when the rules are clear. Does your business have a written policy covering how employees may or may [...]
If you've never been involved in a lawsuit in Iowa, knock on wood or do whatever you do for luck, because whatever it is seems to be working. Even if you've been in a lawsuit in Iowa, there are recent changes that you should be aware of in case you unluckily find yourself in the [...]
"A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on." attributed to Samuel Goldwyn Do you find yourself going a bit too fast in arranging a deal? With emails or phone calls back and forth, many people don’t always get details about the transaction in writing. If this sounds familiar, take a minute to think [...]
NON-PAYMENT IS A THREAT TO MOST SUBCONTRACTORS’ AND SUPPLIERS’ BOTTOM LINES – especially if you are providing labor and supplies for construction projects. Knowing who you can collect from, what tools for recovery are available, and being proactive to minimize disputes, can make a difference. man and woman hand closeup with home keys representing [...]
Why do I have to answer all these questions? Why are they asking for all these documents? Do we really have to give them over? Are we going to ask a bunch of questions too? As a paralegal, I sometimes get questions from clients along the lines of what you see above. I can understand [...]
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported on a legal settlement reached between Bridgid Ruden, the City of Coralville, the State of Iowa, and Horsfield Construciton Company. Ms. Ruden had been riding her bicycle on a trail and lost control of her bike and crashed after hitting a patch of mud on the trail. She was in a [...]
Currently, if you wish to file a claim in Iowa Courts, the jurisdictional limit for small claims court is $5,000. That means if the total damages or value you seek is not greater than $5,000 your case is filed in small claims court, and if your damages or value exceed $5,000, your case is filed in district court. [...]
Back in 2009, former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a portion of the royalties enjoyed by the NCAA for rebroadcasting old games and using other archival footage. As the lawsuit wore on, additional former NCAA athletes joined O'Bannon as plaintiffs, and recently, they sought to add a new claim to [...]
