Iowa Supreme Court Interprets “Shoulder” as a Scheduled Member

Legal Update by Attorneys Alison Stewart and Tyler Smith, and Law Clerk Jordan GehlhaarSignificant debate has stemmed from the legislature’s addition of the “shoulder” to Iowa Code Section 85.34(2). The Iowa Supreme Court settled this debate, in part, in their recent decisions, Chavez v. M.S. Techn…


The “Eggshell Plaintiff Rule”: What is it and how can it affect your case?

Legal Update by Attorney Marshall Tuttle and Law Clerk Jordan GehlhaarIowa Uniform Jury Instruction 200.34 is titled “Previous Infirm Condition” and reads:  If plaintiff had [a] condition making [them] more susceptible to injury than a person in normal health, then the defendant is responsible for …


ABA Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Mid-Winter Meeting March 4-5 in New Orleans

Attorney Alison Stewart is on the planning committee for the March 4-5 ABA Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Mid-Winter Meeting to be held in New Orleans. This is a conference planned by ABA's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Session. This year's meeting is offering panels that speak …


Workers' Compensation Update

Legal Update by Attorney Alison Stewart and Law Clerk Jordan Gehlhaar The Iowa Court of Appeals and the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner recently ruled on several important workers’ compensation topics:Compensation when Shoulder Injury is Combined with another Scheduled Member Injury Commissione…


Peddicord Lillis Attorneys Recognized in Practice Areas by “The Best Lawyers in America©”

Five attorneys from Peddicord Lillis were recently selected by their peers to be recognized in respective practice areas by The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 edition for Des Moines. Two attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers in America (2022 Edition) Workers’ Compensation La…


Peddicord Lillis Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2022 Edition

Peddicord Lillis has been recognized in the practice area of Workers' Compensation - Employers by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” for its 2022 rankings. The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client an…


2021 Year-End Workers’ Compensation Update

Legal Update by Attorney Alison Stewart and Law Clerk Jordan Gehlhaar Happy Holidays from Peddicord Lillis! We have a few recent updates concerning workers’ compensation matters: Commissioner Cortese filed the most recent supervisory order concerning COVID-19 impact on November 29, 2021. All in-p…


Could Iowa’s Cannabis and Marijuana Laws Affect Your Workers’ Compensation Case?

Legal Update by Attorneys Alison Stewart and Chris Spencer, and Law Clerk Jordan Gehlhaar Use of medicinal cannabis is legal in narrow cases in Iowa. The Medical Cannabidiol Act was first passed in 2014 and has historically been very restrictive and slow to expand. Today’s Act provides that indivi…


Agency Rules on Apportionment, Employer’s Right to Credit

By Attorney Alison Stewart and Law Clerk Jordan Gehlhaar Recent arbitration decision, Rife v. P.M. Lattner Manufacturing Company, reviewed apportionment of disability and an employer’s right to a credit. The issue in this case was whether the employer was entitled to a credit for 29.6 percent indu…


September/October Case Law Update

By Attorney Alison Stewart and Law Clerk Jordan Gehlhaar The issue in Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc. v. Simons was whether a tear of the claimant’s right quadriceps tendon was a scheduled injury of the leg or a whole body injury. The employer argued this was scheduled under 85.34 (2)(p) because it on…