ATTORNEY PROFILE:
ROBERT V. P. WATERMAN, JR.
Lane & Waterman LLP
220 North Main Street, Suite 600
Davenport, Iowa 52801-1987
Direct: 563-333-6618
Fax: 563-324-1616
e-mail:
I. EDUCATION
· Northwestern University, B.A., 1978
· University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 1981; Managing Editor, Iowa Law Review, 1980-81
II. LEGAL BACKGROUND/PROFESSIONAL RATINGS
· Lane & Waterman LLP, 1981-present
· Primary practice areas: Civil Litigation, including Commercial, Professional Malpractice, Insurance Coverage and Product Liability
· Licensed and admitted in Iowa and Illinois state courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Ohio, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
· Martindale Hubbell AV rating (since 1996)
· Chambers USA America's Leading Business Lawyers "Band 1" rating for Litigation: General Commercial (since 2003)
· The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law and Medical Malpractice Law, and Bet-the-Company Litigation)
· Iowa Super Lawyers Top 10 List for 2007, 2009-2015.
III. PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS (legal)
· President, Iowa State Bar Association (2011 – 2012)
· Director, Iowa State Bar Foundation
· Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers since 2000 (peer selection limited to 1% of lawyers practicing in state) and Chair, State Committee (2008 – 2010)
· Fellow, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers since 1994
· Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
· Member, Defense Research Institute
· Member, Iowa Defense Counsel Association (Director, 2005 – 2008)
· Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
· Member, Illinois Association of Defense Counsel
· Member, American, Iowa and Illinois State Bar Associations
· Member, Scott County Bar (President 2001-2002) and Rock Island County Bar Associations
· District 7 Representative, Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors (2004 – 2009) (Chair, Scope and Correlations (2008 – 2009))
· Chair, Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa (2005-2008)
· Consulting Claim Counsel for Fireman’s Fund’s Professional Liability Insurance Program in Iowa (2004-March 2016)
· Iowa Seventh Judicial District Court Nominating Commission, (1999-2005)
· Past Member, Advisory Committee on Iowa Judicial Branch Redistricting (appointed by Chief Justice Lavorato August 26, 2002)
· Past President, Quad City Claims Association
IV. PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS/COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS (non-legal)
· Trustee, Hubbell Waterman Foundation
· Member, Board of Directors, Friendly House of Davenport (President 1990 – 1992)
· Member, Investment Committee, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
· Past Member, Board of Directors, and President, Friendly House Foundation
· Past Member, Board of Directors, Genesis VNA Professional Advisory Board
· Class Agent, University of Iowa College of Law, Class of 1981 (1992-present)
· Past Member, Board of Directors, Brenton Bank
· Past Senior Warden, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Vestry (1996)
· Past President, The Davenport Club
V. JURY AND SIGNIFICANT BENCH TRIAL EXPERIENCE
1. Willenborg, Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, Law No. 01311 TRPR 027914/ 01311 ESPR 044243 (Business Court); legal malpractice; plaintiff’s counsel: Dave Dutton and Cheryl Weber; judgment for defense.
2. Dossett, Iowa District Court for Henry County, Law No. LALA011723; tort & breach of contract claims; plaintiff’s counsel: Rober Huddle; verdict for plaintiffs.
3. Beadle, Iowa district Court for Scott County, Law No. LACE122615; medical malpractice; plaintiff’s counsel: Fred James: defense verdict.
4. Kirchner, Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. 119431; medical malpractice case; plaintiff’s counsel: Max Kirk; defense verdict.
5. Carver, Illinois District Court for Rock Island County, Law No. 12 L 8; medical malpractice; plaintiff’s counsel: Michael Warner; defense verdict.
6. Cox, Iowa District Court for Henry County, Law No. LALA 011674; chiropractic malpractice; plaintiff’s counsel: Paul Lundberg; defense verdict.
7. City of Clinton, Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. LACE 123660; legal malpractice case in which City of Clinton sought $4.67 million for the alleged legal malpractice in handling an underlying False Claim Act (Qui Tam) case which the City of Clinton settled for $4.5 million; plaintiff's counsel: Mike Hannafan, Blake Hannafan, Stacey Vucko, John Gosma; defense verdict after a 3-week jury trial.
8. Herman, Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. 115040; Chiropractic malpractice; plaintiff's counsel; Pressley Henningsen; plaintiff's verdict.
9. Winegard Company v. Electronic Controlled Systems, Inc., d/b/a King Controls, Case 3:09-cv-00138-CRW-CFB; patent infringement; King Controls sought more than $5 million plus future royalties for Winegard's infringement of two patents; which Winegard contended were invalid as obvious; King Control's counsel: Randall Skaar; verdict and judgment of invalidity for Winegard; affirmed U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 2012-1282.
10. Leep Hyundai, L.L.C. v. Green Family Hyundai, Inc., Case 3:11-cv-0081/-CRW-RAW; conspiracy to violate Iowa Code Ch 322A and tortious interference with contract; plaintiff's counsel: James Aronson, James Radigard, Harry Zanville; judgment for defendant.
11. Hughes, Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. 113840; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Marc Humphrey; defense verdict.
12. Nemmers v. Ford Motor Company, U.S. District Ct. Southern District of Iowa, Law No. 3:09-cv-00014-CRW-CFB; product liability; Plaintiff sought more than $27 million for her quadriplegia, claiming the restraint system in a Ford F250 Super Duty pickup truck was defectively designed and caused her injuries in a rollover accident; plaintiff's counsel: Richard Denny and Pressley Henningsen; defense verdict.
13. Neas, Iowa District Court for Clinton County, Law No. 33513; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Michael K. Bush; plaintiff's verdict.
14. Kellenberger, Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. 111054; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Michael J. Warner; defense verdict.
15. Dunning, U.S. Dist. Ct. Southern District of Iowa, Law No. 3:05-CV-00050; plaintiffs sought more than $5 million for claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, insider trading and breach of contract; plaintiffs' counsel: Thomas D. Harson; following a 5-day trial, Judge John Jarvey ruled in favor of defendants on all claims.
16. Weber, Iowa District Court for Clinton County, Law No. LA 32169; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Karen Lorenzen; plaintiff's verdict.
17. Estate of Hurlbut, Iowa District Court for Muscatine County, Case No. LACV 017198; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: Mark E. Liabo; defense verdict.
18. Estate of Toffanelli, Iowa district Court for Scott County, Law No. 107007; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Michael J. Warner; defense verdict.
19. Mississippi Medical Plaza, L.C., Iowa District Court for Scott County, Law No. 103327; breach of contract; Plaintiffs' counsel: Ralph W. Heninger, Heninger & Heninger, P.C., and Stanley J. Thompson, Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C.; defense verdict on Plaintiffs' claims seeking $11.5 million and verdict of $140,000 for Defendants on Defendants' counterclaim.
20. Bingham, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 101154; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: James Hayes and Karen Lorenzen; defense verdict.
21. Goodrich Corp., Ohio Comm. Pl., Summit Co., CV-02-0410; environmental insurance coverage; I was lead defense counsel in this 6-week jury trial; plaintiff's counsel: Paul Rose and Sallie Conley Lux of Brouse McDowell in Akron, OH., and Andrew Reidy and Cathy Serafin of Howrey, LLP in Washington, D.C.; plaintiff's verdict.
22. Blessing, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 98717; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: James Hayes and Karen Lorenzen; defense verdict.
23. Story v. Volkswagen, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (Cedar Rapids), No. C95-2005; product liability; plaintiffs' counsel: John Riccolo and Timothy Semelroth; defense verdict.
24. Estate of Haiduck, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 95538; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Michael Warner and Michael Bush; defense verdict.
25. Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board v. Mobil Oil Corporation, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 88760; leaking UST; plaintiff's counsel: Roger Stone and Webb Wasmer; defense verdict.
26. Saul, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 94146; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: Arthur L. Buzzell; defense verdict.
27. Kelley, Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, No. LACV0515006; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: C. J. Knippel and Ron L. Luehrsman; defense verdict.
28. Schlicher, Iowa District Court for Lee County, No. LALA 003909; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: Richard Fehseke, Jr. and Richard Fehseke, III; plaintiffs' verdict.
29. Shirk, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 90314; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: James Hayes and Karen Lorenzen; defense verdict.
30. Dee, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 89237; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: James Hayes; defense verdict.
31. Petersen, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 87078; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: James Hayes; defense verdict.
32. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co. v. ACC Chemical Company, et al., Iowa District Court for Clinton County, No. CL-14219; environmental insurance coverage; I was one of three lead defense counsel in this 9-week jury trial; plaintiff's trial counsel: Daniel Williams and John Hendricks; plaintiff's verdict (reversed on appeal).
33. Bennett, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 77542; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Trent Marquis; defense verdict.
34. Hayman, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 77303; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: William Walker and William Laird; defense verdict.
35. Lund, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 77386; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: Stuart Lefstein and John Doak; defense verdict.
36. Stender, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 75175; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: David McManus; defense verdict.
37. Welte, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 75148; medical malpractice; plaintiffs' counsel: John Carlin; defense verdict.
38. Ross, Iowa District Court for Muscatine County, No. C4028-187; medical/pharmacist malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: James Hayes; defense verdict for our pharmacist client.
39. Schoenfeld, Iowa District Court for Clinton County, No. CL-9740; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: W. Swain Perkins and Patrick Driscoll; defense verdict.
40. Smith, Circuit Court, 14th Judicial Circuit, Rock Island County, Illinois, No. 84-L-14; medical malpractice; plaintiff's counsel: Paul O'Malley; defense verdict.
41. Mathis v. Mack Trucks, Inc., U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa (Davenport), No. 85-158-D-2; product liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Fred Berger; defense verdict.
42. Boerjan v. Ford Motor Co., et al., Iowa District Court for Cedar County, No. 28888, product liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Bruce D. Goddard; defense verdict.
43. Petrak v. Gerber Products Co., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa, No. C 86-2053; product liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Tom Riley and Sarah Riley Brown; plaintiffs' verdict.
44. Howard, et al. v. Campbell Soup Company, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 66059; product liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Don Frank; defense verdict.
45. Hall v. Union Oil Company, et al., Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 75322; premises liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Fred Berger and Stuart Kritzer; defense verdict.
46. Esplin v. Nucor Corporation, Iowa District Court for Henry County, No. CL840-0285; personal injury; plaintiffs' counsel: Thomas Vilsack; plaintiffs' verdict.
47. Johnson, Iowa District Court for Clinton County, No. CL-9420; premises liability; plaintiffs' counsel: James Bruhn; plaintiffs' verdict.
48. Kirkwood v. Moline Management, Inc., et al., Circuit Court, 14th Judicial Circuit, Rock Island County, Illinois, No. 85-L-188; premises liability; plaintiffs' counsel: Chad Cox and Gary McKenrick; defense verdict.
49. Beck, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 72561; motor vehicle accident; plaintiffs' counsel: Mark Gebo; plaintiffs' verdict.
50. Fyfe, Iowa District Court for Johnson County, No. 53646; motor vehicle accident; plaintiff's counsel: Robert Swanson and Diane Reinsch; plaintiff's verdict (admitted liability).
51. Malahy, Iowa District Court for Clinton County, No. 21952; motor vehicle accident; plaintiffs' counsel: William Bush and James Carlin; plaintiffs' verdict (admitted liability).
52. Miller, Iowa District Court for Scott County; motor vehicle accident; plaintiff's counsel: Michael Bennett; plaintiff's verdict.
53. Beck, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 64951; medical malpractice; co-counsel: Thomas Shields; plaintiffs' counsel: Arthur Buzzell; defense verdict.
54. Sammons, Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, No. 19637; medical malpractice; co-counsel: Robert Waterman, Sr.; plaintiffs' counsel: William Ball and Jay Nardini; defense verdict.
55. Smith, Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, No. CL 157-1280; medical malpractice; co-counsel: Robert Waterman, Sr.; plaintiffs' counsel: Lex Hawkins and Thomas Vilsack; defense verdict.
56. Votroubek, Iowa District Court for Scott County, No. 75152; medical malpractice; co-counsel: Robert Waterman, Sr.; plaintiffs' counsel: Patrick Roby and Mark Zaiger; plaintiffs' verdict.
57. Jones, Iowa District Court for Allamakee County, No. 21284; medical malpractice; co-counsel: Rand Wonio; opposing defense counsel: Edward Gallagher, Raymond Stefani, Sr. and Michael Figenshaw; defense verdict.
58. McNeal, Iowa District Court for Scott County; motor vehicle accident; co-counsel: Rand Wonio; plaintiffs' counsel: Albert Stafne; plaintiffs' verdict.
VI. APPELLATE EXPERIENCE
1. Creative Calling Solutions v. LF Beauty Ltd., 799 F.3d 975 (8th Cir 2015), reversed district court’s dismissal for lack of jurisdiction (breach of contract)
2. Travelers Property Cas. Co. v. Flexsteel Industries, 847 N.W.2d 237 (Iowa App 2014), reversed order granting summary judgment in favor of client Travelers (environmental coverage insurance)
3. Winegard Company v. Electronic Controlled Systems, Inc., d/b/a King Controls, No. 2012-1282 (U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit), affirmed jury verdict and judgment of invalidity of two King Controls patents
4. Kristie Neas, No. 10-1364 (Iowa App 2011), affirming jury verdict and judgment for plaintiff, application for further review denied (Iowa 2012) (medical malpractice)
5. Quad City Bank & Trust v. Kircher & Associates, 804 N.W.2d 83 (Iowa 2011), vacated decision of court of appeals and affirmed jury verdict and judgment of the District Court of Dubuque County (accountant's malpractice)
6. Dunning, No. 09-2812 (U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Cir. September 21, 2010), affirming District Court decision for Defendants, Dunning, 637 F. Supp 2d 625 (S.D. Iowa 2009) (breach of contract, fiduciary duties and insider trading)
7. Dunning, 536 F3d 879 (8th Cir 2008), reversing summary judgment for Defendants (breach of contract, fiduciary duties, insider trading and fraud)
8. Goodrich Corp. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 2008 WL 2581579 2008-Ohio-3200, Ohio App 9th District, June 30, 2008, reconsideration denied by 121 Ohio St. 3d 1411, 902 N.E.2nd 35, 2009 Ohio 805 (Ohio Mar 4, 2009) (environmental insurance coverage)
9. PSI Energy, Inc. v. The Home Insurance Co., Indiana Court of Appeals, 801 N.E.2d 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (environmental insurance coverage)