Category: Recent Results

GRL Law Secures Settlement for Special Education Student Who Was Sexually Assaulted on School Grounds, During School Hours

Paulina, O’Brien County, Iowa. The Court has approved the South O’Brien Community School District’s agreement to pay $625,000.00 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a special education student who was sexually assaulted by a fellow student in the building of South O’Brien High School, during school hours. The suit, filed by the Government Accountability Division of GRL Law back in August of 2022, alleged that the special education student was victimized by a fellow, higher functioning, special education student, at times, when they were the only two students being taught by a single teacher.  All three named […]

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NFG Domestic Abuse Assault With a Firearm

Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. What may be the most ridiculous and worst investigated Domestic Abuse Assault case that GRL Law ever defended, went to trial and the jury acquitted GRL’s client in under a half-hour of deliberation.  The accusation was that GRL’s client fired four shots while standing on a hill in the woods, along a gravel road in Madison County, when he did not know that his ex-wife had arrived unexpectedly at the property.  The ex-wife claimed that shots were fired to scare her even though the perfectly in-focus pictures that she took proved that GRL’s client had his […]

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$40,000 Settlement for Unwarranted Suspicion in Boone County

In a noteworthy demonstration of legal expertise and dedication to upholding citizens’ rights, GRL’s Government Accountability Division recently marked a significant victory in Boone County, Iowa. The division secured a $40,000 settlement for a Boone County man, unjustly ensnared in the legal system due to an unconstitutional traffic stop by a Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy. This case, emblematic of GRL’s commitment to challenging governmental overreach and defending constitutional rights, not only underscores the firm’s prowess in legal advocacy but also highlights the broader implications of law enforcement practices on individual liberties. The incident unfolded when a Boone County Deputy, operating […]

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Story County Prosecutor Sanctioned for Misconduct

Nevada, Story County, Iowa.  Don’t nip at The Wolf.  He bites back! An Assistant Story County Attorney attempted to prosecute a meritless operating while intoxicated case against GRL’s client.  As usual, GRL gave the prosecutor the opportunity to do the right thing but he could not “let the bear go.”  When the prosecutor finally saw the writing on the wall and agreed to dismiss the case, he had already dug himself a hole that placed himself firmly in hot water.  Amazingly, when called to task on his dirty deeds, the prosecutor could not drop the brush, and continued to paint […]

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Three Million Dollar Gross Negligence Verdict

Vinton, Benton County, Iowa. Cory F. Gourley was part of a legal team representing the family of a young man who was killed in a tragic mining accident.  The extraordinarily difficult part of such cases is that injured individuals, and even families of those who are killed in workplace accidents, generally have no recourse against their negligent employer, other than the limited recovery available through worker’s compensation claims. The primary exception however, is if a worker’s superior and/or co-worker acted in a grossly negligent manner.  Unfortunately for Iowans, the law surrounding such claims makes it extremely difficult to prevail on […]

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$154,900 Settlement for Wrongful Arrest

Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa.  GRL’s Government Accountability Division obtained a settlement of $154,900 for an Ankeny man who was wrongfully arrested by Ankeny Police Department earlier this year.  While the financial compensation was substantial for GRL’s client, it was not the most incredible part of this case. Apologies, especially sincere apologies, simply do not happen when a citizen accuses a government entity of misconduct or violating their constitutional rights.  Deflection, denial, victim-blame, and excuse-making tend to be the government’s go-to approaches to these types of cases. They never, ever admit that they were wrong.  However, in this case, in a […]

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Another Marijuana OWI Win!

The district court in northwest Iowa recently granted the State’s Motion to Dismiss following a ruling suppressing the results of a blood test obtained through implied consent. The drugged driving attorneys at GRL Law challenged the test results under Iowa Code section 321J.11, the state’s independent testing law. The state trooper originally requested a urine sample.  Our client agreed and also requested a blood sample. Under Iowa law, you can get an independent sample as long as you take the officer’s requested test. Rather than obtain both a urine and blood sample, however, the trooper simply changed his request to […]

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Drug Charges Dismissed Following Suppression Win

When it comes to warrantless searches, the drug crime attorneys at GRL Law really know their stuff. A recent example from North Iowa shows just how they leverage their knowledge to secure a dismissal by shining a bright light on illegal police conduct. Our client was the passenger in a vehicle that was parked one minute past the deadline in a city park.  Rather than simply wave on the driver, police decided to engage the occupants instead and request identification. When the driver rolled down the window, the officer smelled marijuana. Now, the driver owned up to a vape pen […]

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Felony OWI Amended to Public Intoxication

Follow the process.  That’s what the drunk driving defense lawyers at GRL Law do with every OWI. We meticulously sift through every bit of evidence in a case.  Every second of video.  Each word of an officer’s narrative.  All in search of a defense.   And when we find that gold nugget?  It can change everything. Take a recent felony OWI matter in southern Iowa.  The Iowa State Patrol claimed our client “refused” a urine test for marijuana metabolites. The stakes were definitely high.  Felony OWI convictions can result in lengthy prison or jail sentences and long license revocations. By applying […]

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