Governor Reynolds announced on Saturday, March 21st that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a disaster declaration for the state of Iowa as of January 31, 2020 and continuing. The declaration allows pandemic-impacted small businesses to apply for low-interest support loans. The declaration comes after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds submitted a federal funding

The Brick Gentry Law Firm is here for you during these challenging times. We have temporarily moved to a virtual, technology-driven, remote work day for many of our attorneys and employees. Working with our IT team we have assured the security of our network and information exchange. We have also asked everyone to temporarily stop

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency. Lots of people have inquired whether the Governor has the power to close certain businesses and other events. This announcement does a good job of outlining the various code sections under which the Governor is supporting her decisions. Some of the highlights:

The Iowa Secretary of State sent out a Tweet on March 18, 2020 concerning filings and the closing of its office lobby until March 27, 2020. Fastrack filing procedures are still in process so corporate filings may still be conducted. As I have indicated, I have access to Fastrack filing access so I am able

If you are looking for legal information involving a wide-range of issues relating to the Coronavirus pandemic, I encourage you to check out Coronavirus Legal Daily which is a Channel on the LexBlog Network. There are lawyers blogging on many topics from employment law to real estate lease agreements to insurance coverage issues and more.

Let’s get down to brass tacks. The main reason Republican lawmakers in Iowa are looking to change the way Iowa judges are selected is because they want protection for social issues like an anti-abortion bill they hope to pass this legislative session and due to the Iowa Supreme Court decision in Varnum from several years ago where the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that non-religious, civil marriage, is available to everyone. Since Varnum, special interests worked hard to oust Iowa Supreme Court justices. And now, these special interests are setting their sights on changing the process for the Judicial Nominating Commission that ultimately appoints judges in Iowa. Under the current system, Iowa lawyers elect one-half of the commissioners to the Judicial District Nominating Commissions while the governor appoints the other half of the members. Lawmakers want to change this so that lawyers no longer elect one-half of the commissioners but rather lawmakers from the political parties would nominate the other half.
Continue Reading Iowa Lawmakers Looking to Politicize our Courts?

A year ago I joked that I didn’t know the governor (Branstad at the time) and the legislature could cut another $7.7 million from our judiciary. While my comment was tongue-in-cheek, my worries were not. Our Iowa judiciary is facing challenges like we have never seen before. And it’s showing.  The US Institute for Legal

Several Brick Gentry lawyers were recently recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for 2016-2017.

See the full article here.

Rush Nigut was named one of the Best Lawyers in America® in three categories including:

  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (Firm receiving a Tier I rating);
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law
  • Franchise