Assume you are pulling a heavier piece of inventory, you twist awkwardly and injure your lower back. For the next few weeks not only are you prohibited from lifting the heavy inventory, but you can’t work at all because it is painful to walk and stand. Under Iowa law, these circumstances alone are clearly enough for a workers’ compensation claim.…
At-Will Employment – Retaliation – Wrongful Termination Unfortunately, employers and their insurance provider can be opposed to providing workers’ compensation benefits, and frequently may make the process difficult. If employers in Council Bluffs, or anywhere in Iowa, terminate a workers’ compensation claimant the law in Iowa provides recourse for the employee. In Iowa, the employee and employer relationship is based…
The short answer is yes. These forms of coverage are not legally required, but are strongly recommended. Iowa law requires all drivers to show proof of financial responsibility, whether they are involved in a motor vehicle accident or not. In nearly all circumstances, with very few exceptions, this means proof of insurance. Without insurance an individual can face suspension of…
Charles L. Smith was recently appointed to serve on the Iowa State Bar Association’s Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section Council. The ISBA is a voluntary organization of more than 8,000 lawyers and judges who are licensed to practice law in the state of Iowa. The ISBA facilitates growth and collegiality among Iowa attorneys. It has 23 sections involving more than 250…
The 2017 Iowa legislative session resulted in an overhaul of certain provisions of the Iowa Workers’ Compensation statutes. New amendments apply to work-related injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2017. Unfortunately, the majority of the changes create more hurdles for injured workers to obtain benefits. Prior laws apply to all workplace injuries that occurred before July 1, 2017. …
Has your insurer ever presented you with a release of liability? Did you take the time and effort to carefully read the entire release prior to signing? Did you completely understand the contents of the release? Were you comfortable signing the release? The reality is most individuals hastily sign on the dotted line to quickly obtain payment without thinking twice…
Charles Smith has been selected to the 2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers list in the practice areas of Business and Bankruptcy. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at SuperLawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70…
Once you have decided that bankruptcy is the appropriate option to alleviate overwhelming debt or financial difficulty, it is necessary to determine whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the right for you. Both processes provide recourse for an individual in Council Bluffs, IA who is unable to overcome a mound of financial commitments and bills, but there are…
At Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, our workers’ compensation lawyers only represent injured people. We do not represent employers or their worker’s compensation insurance carrier. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF A WORK RELATED INJURY WAS YOUR FAULT. Not infrequently we have clients in our office for reasons other than worker’s compensation consultation, only to discover that they also have a valid…
Congratulations to Charles L. Smith for being recognized by Omaha Magazine in their “The Best Lawyers in America®” issue, in the areas of Litigation-Bankruptcy Law as well as Banking and Finance Law. Charles is proud to be listed in Omaha Magazine’s The Best Lawyers in America® because it’s widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in…