Iowa Personal Injury Criminal Defense Attorney Civil Rights Discrimination Des Moines Lawyer

Representative Work

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

$1.6 million jury verdict. For the negligent release by a hospital of the deceased’s husband, who subsequently murdered her. (Verdict later reduced by the court).

$1 million settlement. Postal worker lost a leg.

$600,000 settlement. Against a city for a snowplow accident resulting in a broken leg.

$480,000 settlement. For the gross negligence of an employer involving the sexual assault of an employee.

$300,000 settlement. Involving a motor vehicle accident resulting in death.

Confidential settlement. Medical malpractice involving bariatric surgery (gastric by-pass).

$225,000 jury verdict. Injury resulting from a falling box in a Boone County Walmart franchise.

$175,000 jury verdict. Dallas County.

$175,000 settlement. A civil action for damages resulting from rape and assault.

Criminal Defense

State v. Williams. Former Hawkeye assistant wrestling coach Joe Williams was acquitted of indecent exposure. (2006).

Successfully represented two Des Moines police officers in two shooting deaths in the line of duty. (2005).

State v. Higbee. Centerville teacher Timothy Higbee was acquitted of 15 counts of alleged sexual abuse against a student. The State, following Higbee’s acquittal, filed multiple additional charges relating to an alleged second victim. Higbee was acquitted in his second trial as well, and the State dismissed all remaining charges against Higbee. (2003-2005).

United States v. Honken. Tried Iowa’s first death penalty case in over 40 years. Honkin was accused of killing three adults and two children in relation to various drug offenses. His conviction is presently on appeal. Attorney Alfredo Parrish is one of only a few death penalty lawyers in Iowa. (2004).

State v. Bruce. A jury acquitted Bruce of one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, although three witnesses present at the scene of the shootings identified Bruce and the gunman. Bruce’s attorneys managed to exclude irrelevant information from the jury’s consideration and were able to discredit the witnesses against Bruce. (2001).

State v. Gilbert. Gilbert was acquitted of the first degree murder of a Chicago man believed to be the leader of the “Gangster Disciples.” (1999).

State v. Berryhill. Obtained an early release on the 25-year mandatory sentence of an 18-year-old convicted of first-degree burglary. (1998, Parole Board).

United States v. Farmer. Tried the first “three strikes and you’re out” case in the nation – twice. The first trial ended in a hung jury. Farmer was convicted only after a co-defendant confessed in the second trial. (1994 and 1995).

State v. Franklin. John Franklin was acquitted of killing his father and stepmother.

State v. Lass. Terri Lass, who became a national subject of derision when her six-day-old baby was kidnapped, was acquitted by a jury of first-degree murder after two changes of venue were granted. (1992).

State v. White. A jury acquitted Ronald White, a former Des Moines police sergeant, of theft. (1991).

State v. Welton. An all-white jury acquitted David Welton, a black man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a white Des Moines Police officer. (1977).

Employment and Labor Law

Winegar v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 20 F.3d 895 (1994). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed the District Court’s summary judgment against high school teacher Larry Winegar, who was suspended and transferred as a result of an altercation with a student. The Eighth Circuit held that Winegar had a constitutionally protected property interest in his employment and that the School District had failed to meet due process requirements.

Civil Rights

$1 million verdict. Employer retaliated against an employee for reporting the sexual harassment of another employee.

Administrative Law

$40 million recovery. Governor refused to pay State Employees following arbitration awards.

Family Law

Custody order reversed by Iowa Court of Appeals placing children with their mother rather than their father. 2006.

Termination of parental rights reversed by the Iowa Court of Appeals as a result of the failure of the District Court to comply with procedural requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act. 2004.

Dissolution trial resulted in a substantial financial settlement to the wife of a farmer who had a family farm business. 2003.

Appellate Law

State of Iowa v. Garrison (2006). The Iowa Court of Appeals overturned Garrison’s conviction for first-degree murder based on the prosecution’s inappropriate admission of irrelevant evidence.

State of Iowa v. Werts, (2004). Ms. Werts came to our offices following her conviction for the first-degree murder of a twenty-one-month-old child for whom she provided day care. We were able to get that conviction reversed on appeal. The Iowa Court of Appeals held that it was prejudicial error to admit impeachment evidence involving bad acts and that the prejudicial effect of that evidence outweighed its probative value. The State then appealed the Iowa Court of Appeal’s reversal to the Iowa Supreme Court, which confirmed the reversal.

United States v. Yager, 328 F.3d 1008 (2003). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that Yager, who pleaded guilty to federal drug offenses, should have been considered for a downward adjustment under the United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines for minor participation in the offense, even though she was the only participant charged.

In re Marriage of King, 2002 WL 31015614 (Iowa App, 2002). Definitive case of post-secondary education contribution.

United States v. Thurmon, 278 F.3d 790 (2002). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that the Thurmon’s inconsistent statements at his plea hearing were accidental, and thus did not obstruct justice and subject him to a sentencing enhancement under the United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

State v. Gay, 2001 WL 913838. Gay’s conviction for first-degree robbery and assault causing bodily injury were reversed and remanded by the Iowa Court of Appeals for a new trial. Gay’s rights under the Sixth Amendment were violated when the statements of his co-defendants were presented to the jury.

United States v. Beeks, 224 F.3d 741 (2000). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that the prosecutor’s misconduct in cross-examining a witness on Beeks’ answer to a job application question about his criminal history deprived Beeks of a fair trial.

State v. One 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 521 N.W.2d 721 (1994). The Iowa Supreme Court reversed the Iowa District Court, holding that the evidence was not sufficient to establish forfeitability of a car used in a drug transaction.

State v. Smith, 508 N.W.2d 101 (1993). The Iowa Court of Appeals held that inconsistent and self-contradictory statements and testimony of alleged child victims, as sole evidence of guilt, was insufficient to sustain a conviction for sexual abuse.

State v. Hardy, 492 N.W.2d 230 (1992). The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed Hardy’s conviction of first-degree murder, holding that the introduction of evidence of Hardy’s prior assault convictions, evidence he had watched a movie about a serial killer the night before the murder, and testimony of his former girlfriends that he had sexually abused them, was reversible error.

Posters ‘N’ Things, et. al. v. United States of America. Attorney Alfredo Parrish pursued his client’s conviction in a United States District Court to the highest court in the country, arguing the case in 1993 before the Supreme Court of the United States of America.