Category: Wrongful Death, Serious Injury

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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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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2022 Year in Review

What. A. Year!  2022 was a whirlwind at GRL.  The year seemed like it was in non-stop fast-forward from the very beginning.  Cases backlogged by COVID were finally able to proceed.  Insurance companies that had been sitting on their reserves throughout COVID finally found themselves staring down the reality of a jury trial on civil cases and saw the writing on the wall.  When trials are available, things begin to move.  Move they certainly did. The Civil Division secured over 5 MILLION dollars in verdicts and settlements making a positive impact for GRL’s clients and the community.  Founding Partner Cory […]

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Policy Limits Settlement

Madison County, Iowa.  Unfortunately motor vehicle accidents are a common and often result in serious injuries or death to those involved.  One such case was recently handled by attorney Matt Lindholm where his client was hit and killed while riding his motorcycle.  The driver of the other vehicle had crossed the center line after having taking prescription medications and consuming alcohol.  Attorney Lindholm was able to secure a settlement from the insurance company for the policy limits as a result of the other driver’s wrongful acts.

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Six Figure Settlement for Boating Injuries

Attorney Matt Lindholm recently reached a settlement for a client who was injured on a charter boat while fishing in Alaska with his family.  The captain of the boat failed to reduce the speed of the boat while returning from their fishing trip and his the wake of another boat which caused the client to be launched into the ceiling of the boat and back to the floor causing substantial injuries.  The insurance company initially wanted to place the blame on the boat that produced the wake however maritime laws and boating regulations squarely placed the cause of the injuries […]

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GRL Law Pre Charge

Police Misconduct in Iowa – Factors and Solutions

Police misconduct exists in Iowa.  Racial disparities in Iowa’s criminal and civil justice system exist.  They are real.  They are problematic.  Unfortunately, neither police misconduct nor racial disparity in our justice systems are likely to undergo real, substantive reform anytime in the near future.  The reason?  The law, as it exists, fosters, breeds, and encourages misconduct and disparity. The courts are charged with interpreting and enforcing the laws as they exist.  The courts have no power to change the direction substantively.  While constitutional protections can be interpreted by our courts to invalidate outdated or overtly inequitable legislation, the Iowa courts […]

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Iowa Supreme Court

GRL Law’s 15 Years of Appellate Advocacy

At GRL Law, we are preparing to argue yet another case before the Iowa Supreme Court next month in State v. Sewell.  The case involves law enforcement’s attempts to record phone conversations between arrested persons and their attorneys while at the jail.  As we prepare to argue Sewell, we also  eagerly await two pending decisions in State v. Kilby and State v. Wright.  Both of these cases involve significant issues related to the privacy and constitutional rights of Iowans. Looking back over the years, this year marks the 15th year of GRL Law’s zealous appellate advocacy.  In total, GRL Law […]

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Persistence Pays Off – GRL Law Secures Payment of Over Half-a-Million Dollars for Victims of Nursing Home Negligence

Ottumwa, Iowa.  After a long, drawn-out battle, GRL Law finally received payment totaling $580,194.79, for clients whose mother died as a result of nursing home negligence while residing at Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Ottumwa, Iowa. Rather than accept responsibility, Good Samaritan fought tooth and nail, drawing the proceedings out as long as possible, hoping that GRL Law and the family would give up hope.  Good Samaritan even fired their Iowa defense lawyers and hired the law firm of Fudge & Broadwater, a Florida based law firm marketing itself as “the Trial Defense Firm for the Long-Term Care Industry!” Despite […]

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