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Lawyers.com > Find a Lawyer > Finley, Alt, Smith, Scharnberg, Craig, Hilmes & Gaffney, P.C.
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Address
699 Walnut Street, Suite 1900
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3905 (Polk Co.)
Average Client Review Rating
Rating not available
Average Peer Review Rating
5.0
out of 5
(Main Office) The Firm's core qualities are - anticipation, preparation, innovation, efficiency and integrity. Parts of the Firm's history can be traced to Iowa's territorial days. The current composition of FINLEY, ALT, SMITH, SCHARNBERG, CRAIG, HILMES & GAFFNEY, P.C. can be traced back 85 years to the founding of Carr, Cox, Evans & Riley in 1924. Traditionally, the Firm has been noted for its outstanding civil litigation practice. Because of the respect of their professional peers, FINLEY ALT SMITH lawyers are noted in the most recent editions of The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA; America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Martindale Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and Great Plains Super Lawyers. FINLEY ALT SMITH attorneys have also been selected for inclusion in professional honorary organizations because of their accomplishments and skill, including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates to name several. FINLEY ALT SMITH litigation attorneys are particularly noted for their successful defense of hundreds of trials and appeals on behalf of doctors, nurses, health care facilities and providers. Our attorneys apply this same expertise to defense of insurance professionals, architects, engineers, lawyers, dentists and a variety of other professionals. FINLEY ALT SMITH lawyers handle all aspects of construction litigation and a broad spectrum of product liability matters. The Firm routinely provides valuable assistance to our insurance clients in such matters as coverage issues including the interpretation and construction of policy language involving personal and commercial lines, excess coverage and reinsurance. The Firm is experienced in declaratory judgments, bad faith actions and direct suits concerning the respective rights and duties of the insurer and insured under a variety of insurance arrangements. FINLEY ALT SMITH business attorneys provide full service legal counsel in today's changing business environment. Our attorneys are noted for expertise in employee benefit matters and can provide individuals with all estate planning needs. The firm has extensive experience in advising real estate clients including buyers, sellers, and lenders concerning both commercial and residential property. Reviser of the Iowa Law Digest for this Directory. Statement of PracticeGeneral Civil Practice including but not limited to Administrative Law; Alternate Dispute Resolution; Appellate Practice; Aviation and Aerospace; Banking Law; Business Law; Civil Rights and Discrimination; Collections Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Contracts; Corporate Law; Employee Benefits; Employment Law; Environmental Law; Family Law; Finance; Insurance; Labor Law; Legal Malpractice; Litigation; Medical Malpractice; Nonprofit Law; Occupational Safety and Health; Pension and Profit Sharing Law; Personal Injury; Product Liability; Professional Liability; Real Estate; Taxation; Toxic Torts; Trademarks and Copyright Law; Transportation; Trial Law; Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate Law; Workers' Compensation; Zoning, Planning and Land Use. Year Established: 1924
Firm Size: 15
Representative Clients:ALAS
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S.
Meredith Corp.
ClientsIOWA ATTORNEYS FOR: Midwest Medical Insurance Co.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS FOR: Norfolk & Southern Railroad
Soo Line Railroad Company.
The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements, certification, specialization or self-proclaimed expertise. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyers as specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. These disclosures are required by the Supreme Court of Iowa.
Address699 Walnut Street, Suite 1900
Des Moines, IA 50309-3905, (Polk Co.)
PhonePhone: 515-288-0145
Fax: 515-288-2724
Websitehttp://www.finleylaw.com
Thomas A. Finley (Member) born Mason City, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1966, Iowa; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1965; LL.B., 1966). Chair, Iowa State Bar Association Committees on: Professional Ethics; Professionalism; Appointed Special Master, Iowa Supreme Court to study attorney advertising. Co-Author: "Tort Reform and Medical MalpracticeIowa Past, Present and Future," 36 Drake Law Review 669, 1987. Co-Author Iowa Section of: "Fifty States Construction Lien and Bond Law." Frequent author and lecturer on Medical Malpractice issues. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Fellow: The Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Association for Justice; American College of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Professional Liability; Products Liability.
Jerry P. Alt (Retired Partner) born Kalona, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1968, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1963); Drake University (J.D., with honors, 1968). Order of the Coif. Notes Editor, Drake Law Review, 1967. Phi Alpha Delta. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Corporate; Construction Law.
Glenn L. Smith (Retired Partner) born Des Moines, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1968, Iowa; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Drake University (B.A., 1965; J.D., 1968). Associate and Case Notes Editor, Drake Law Review, 1967-1968. Phi Alpha Delta. Member, Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics and Conduct, 1992-2001. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Copyright; Professional Liability; Insurance.
Steven K. Scharnberg (Member) born Muscatine, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1974, Iowa; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., with high distinction, 1971; J.D., 1974). Moot Court Board. Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Kappa Psi. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; American Board of Trial Advocates; Iowa Defense Counsel; Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: Professional Liability; Product Liability; Medical Malpractice.
David C. Craig (Member) born Des Moines, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1975, Iowa; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa. Education: Regis University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1969); University of Iowa (J.D., with high distinction, 1975). Order of the Coif; Alpha Sigma Nu. Member: Polk County (President, 1999-2000), Iowa State (Member, Board of Governors, 2000; Member, Sections on: Tax, Probate) and American (Member, Sections on: Taxation; Business) Bar Associations. [Lt. USNR, 1969-1972]. Practice Areas: Business Law; Estate Planning; Probate; Employee Benefits.
John D. (Jack) Hilmes (Member) born Des Moines, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1979, Iowa; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Northern Colorado (B.A., 1976); Drake University (J.D., 1979). Author: "The Continued Availability of The Open and Obvious Defense," Products Liability, Commentary and Cases, November, 1986. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; American Board of Trial Advocates; Defense Research Institute; Iowa Defense Counsel; Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; C. Edwin Moore American Inn of Court (Master of the Bench). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Professional Liability; Litigation.
R. Todd Gaffney (Member) born Storm Lake, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1979, Iowa; 1994, Missouri; Iowa Supreme Court; Missouri Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Drake University (B.S.B.A., 1976); John Marshall Law School; Drake University (J.D., 1979). Omicron Delta Kappa. Staff Member, Drake Law Review, 1978-1979. Law Clerk for Honorable Donald E. O'Brien, United States District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, 1979-1981. Member, Drake University Board of Trustees, 1989-1995. Member: Polk County, Iowa State (Chair, Litigation Section, 1998-2000) and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar; Defense Research Institute; Iowa Defense Counsel; National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; American Board of Trial Advocates. Practice Areas: Litigation; Professional Liability; Products Liability.
Kermit B. Anderson (Member) born Des Moines, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1975, Iowa; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Iowa (B.B.A., with high distinction, 1972; J.D., 1975). Phi Delta Phi; Phi Eta Sigma; Beta Gamma Sigma. Law Clerk to Honorable William C. Stuart, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa, 1975-1977. Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1977-1981 and U.S. Attorney, 1981-1982, Southern District of Iowa. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations; Iowa Defense Counsel Association (Board of Editors, Defense Update, 1990). Practice Areas: Employment Law; Commercial Law; Insurance; Litigation.
Kevin J. Driscoll (Member) born Dubuque, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1988, Missouri; 1998, Iowa; 1999, Minnesota. Education: Loras College (B.A., cum laude, 1982); Drake University (J.D., with honors, 1987). Order of the Coif; Order of Barristers. Staff Member, Drake Law Review, 1987. Member: Polk County, Iowa State, Minnesota State and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar. Practice Areas: Construction Law; Products Liability; Professional Malpractice; Commercial Law; Litigation.
Connie L. Diekema (Member) born Pella, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1988, Iowa; 1990, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit and U.S. Tax Court. Education: Morningside College (B.S., 1983); Drake University (J.D., 1987); University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (M.H.A., 1999). Member, Iowa Board of Governors (2005). Member: Polk County (Secretary, 1999, 2000; Treasurer, 2001; Vice-President, 2002; President Elect, 2003; President, 2004), Iowa State and American Bar Associations; Iowa Defense Counsel; Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys; Iowa Association for Justice. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Bar Association Foundation. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Professional Liability; Litigation.
Frederick T. Harris (Member) born Jefferson, Iowa; admitted to bar, 1994, Iowa, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Loras College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1987); Drake University (M.B.A., 1989); Creighton University (J.D., 1993). Member: Iowa State, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations; Iowa Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Professional Liability; Litigation.
Stacie M. Codr (Member) born Norfolk, Nebraska; admitted to bar, 2002, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1998; J.D., with honors, 2002). Articles Editor, Journal of Gender, Race & Justice. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Employment Law.
——————————Robert L. Johnson (Associate) born San Pedro, California; admitted to bar, 1987, California; 1995, Nevada; 2004, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1982); University of San Diego (J.D., 1986). Member, University of San Diego Law Review. Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Legal Malpractice; Construction Law; Professional Liability; Litigation.Email: Robert L. Johnson
Ashley L. Dose (Associate) born Oskaloosa, Iowa; admitted to bar, 2009, Iowa. Education: University of Northern Iowa (B.A., 2006); Drake University (J.D., 2009). Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations.
Eric G. Hoch (Associate) born Appleton, Wisconsin; admitted to bar, 2004, Iowa. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 1997; J.D., with distinction, 2004). Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. [Captain, U.S. Air Force, 1997-2001]. Practice Areas: Business Law; Litigation.
Erik P. Bergeland (Associate) born Minneapolis, Minnesota; admitted to bar, 2008, Iowa. Education: Iowa State University (B.A., 2004); University of Iowa (J.D., 2008). Member: Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation.
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The following firm members have been rated by their peersDisclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Any result that the endorsed lawyer or law firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate that similar results can be obtained for other clients. Past success cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merits. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Martindale-Hubbell® does not undertake to develop a Client Review Rating or Peer Review Rating for all firms and/or lawyers. Therefore, the fact that a firm or lawyer has not been reviewed should not be construed as unfavorable. Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for and will not be liable for the content and accuracy of the individual Reviews and the aggregated Reviews.
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