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Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm PLC - Attorneys At Law

iowa court of appeals throws out blood test results

Iowa Court of Appeals throws out blood test result but refuses to dismiss Vehicular Homicide charge.

In the decision entered in State of Iowa vs. Andrea La Forge, the Iowa Court of Appeals determined that the blood test result of .057 could not be used against Ms. La Forge at trial because law enforcement withdrew the blood without her consent and without her first being placed under arrest.  The Court of Appeals, however, also concluded that the Vehicular Homicide charge against Ms. La forge [Read story at: failure to preserve evidence after forced blood draw]

:: Attorney Robert Rehkemper :: State of Iowa v. La forge ::
:: Iowa OWI :: Iowa Drunk Driving Laws ::
:: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests :: DUI Blood Draw ::

Forced Blood Draw Determined to be Illegal by Iowa Supreme Court

On March 6, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the suppression of a chemical blood test result obtained from our client in an operating while intoxicated charge.  The court was asked to decide whether the blood test which was withdrawn without consent and without a warrant would run afoul of Iowa law. [Read story at: Forced Blood Draw Illegal]

:: Attorney Matthew Lindholm :: Forced Blood Draw Illegal ::
:: Iowa OWI :: Iowa Drunk Driving Laws ::
:: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests :: DUI Blood Draw ::

They Say "The Red Lights Are Here To Stay"

Cameras located at intersections in Clive, Iowa snap photos of cars (and their license plates) as the cars roll through or completely avoid stopping at the red lights (running a red light). It's $75.00 fine payable to the city of Clive.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on a similar case last month in Davenport that the cameras could stay.

Criminal defense attorney Matthew T. Lindholm argues that the civil penalties are really traffic violations (crimes). Therefore, a person has a right to confront his or her accusers, but how would a person confront a camera?

:: Traffic Violations - Before You Pay ::

Drunk Driving 3rd offense amended to public intoxication
driver's license saved

DES MOINES IOWA. 1 JUNE 2009. OWI 3rd Offense reduced to Public Intoxication. Driver's license never lost. [Read at Drunk Driving 3rd Offense Amended to Public Intoxication]

drunk driving charge amended - driver's license never suspended

DES MOINES IOWA. 26 MAY 2009. Drunk Driving charge amended. Client’s driver's license was never suspended. [Read at Drunk Driving Amended - Driver's License Never Suspended]

drunk driving amended - driver's license never suspended

DES MOINES IOWA. 19 MAY 2009. Evidence suppressed and DRUNK DRIVING charge amended to public intoxication. GRL client's driver's license was never suspended. [Read at DUI Evidence Suppressed - Driver's License Saved]

cdl saved - owi 2nd amended

DES MOINES IOWA. 13 MAY 2009. Drunk Driving Second Offense charge amended to Public Intoxication and CDL (commercial driver's license) and non-commercial driving privileges saved for Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm client. [Read at OWI 2nd AmendedCDL Saved]

failed test results in dismissed charges

DES MOINES, IA. 14 APRIL 2009.GRL Law's client failed chemical breat test, criminal charges filed, and all charges dismissed. [Read at Failed & Dismissed DUI Charges]

Iowa Criminal Records Protected By Law

DES MOINES, IA. 15 MAY 2008. Law enforcement agencies refuse to respond to public requests for copies of criminal records, even when the request comes from the person charged with the crime. However, under the Iowa Freedom of Information Act, the law requires agencies to comply with such requests, and provides that courts can assess damages for their failure to do so. Attorney Robert Rehkemper addresses Iowa's laws and your rights to information at Iowa Criminal Records.

:: Criminal Records ::

Vehicular Homicide Charges Dismissed

DES MOINES IOWA. 8 October 2008 A Polk County judge dismissed the charge for vehicular homicide against the client of Attorney Robert Rehkemper based upon the State's destruction of evidence following the defense's request to reverse

Upon hearing defendant's motion presented by her attorney, the Court rule that the State's destruction of defendant's blood sample following her request to preserve it violated the 6th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution because defendant would not be able to effectively defend herself at trial due to the State's destruction of the evidence. The defendant had been arrested in August 2007.

:: Vehicular Homicide :: Attorney Robert Rehkemper ::

Felony Drug & Child Endangerment Convictions Reversed

DES MOINES, IA. 2 MAY 2008. Iowa Supreme Court reversed felony drug and child endangerment convictions due to an illegal search as the result of an improperly executed search warrant.

:: Illegal Search Warrant ::

Drunk Driving Rights Card Concerns Law Enforcement

A Des Moines police officer said, "My concern is that maybe the message gets out that there is a new and great way to beat an OWI, which, obviously, the state patrol thinks is a very, very dangerous message." [More at Drunk Driving Rights Card Concerns Law Enforcement]

The dangerous weapon to beat an OWI? It's Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm.

:: Rights Card Concerns Police ::

Has Your Attorney Been Disciplined?

A newly launched website allows people to check to see if their attorney has been disciplined in the state of Iowa.

:: Iowa Attorneys & Disciplinary Actions ::

GRL Welcomes Baby Michels

Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm, PLC, welcomes the newest member of the family. 

GRL Law Associate, Scott Michels and his wife Annie welcome the arrival of Braylon Alan Michels born on Monday, March 9th.  Braylon weighed in at 5 lbs 8 oz and measures 18 inches. Mom and baby are both home and are doing wonderfully.

:: Attorney Scott Michels ::

From our offices in Des Moines, Iowa, we give high-quality representation to people throughout the State of Iowa, including Polk, Warren, Dallas, Boone, Story, and Marion counties, and the cities of Des Moines, Ames, Indianola, Adel, Boone, Nevada, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, and Knoxville