BW INSIGHTS

Government Relations Update - 9.10.21

By BrownWinick | 09.10.2021

Gov. Reynolds Deputy Chief of Staff to Join BrownWinick Des Moines, Iowa (September 10, 2021) – BrownWinick Law is pleased to announce the addition of Paige Thorson as a member to the firm. Thorson compliments the firm’s established government relations, insurance, health care, and energy and natural resources practices. Prior to joining... Read More

BrownWinick Collects More Than 5,500 Diapers to Support Local Refugee Families

By BrownWinick | 07.26.2021

BrownWinick’s Community Engagement Committee recently held a diaper drive in collaboration with Bethany Christian Services in support of the Start Small Project in Des Moines. Start Small Project is a community effort to help fill a specific yet impactful need: diapers for refugee and immigrant families in the Des Moines area. Every single box of... Read More

Iowa Water Quality Lawsuit Dismissed by Supreme Court

By BrownWinick | 06.30.2021

A lawsuit brought against the State of Iowa alleging that the State – and various departments and officials – has failed to sufficiently protect the public’s use of the Raccoon River was ultimately halted by a divided Iowa Supreme Court earlier this month. The lawsuit, initially brought forth by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (“ICCI”) and... Read More

Iowa Supreme Court Clarifies Iowa Civil Rights Act Individual Liability, Disability Discrimination, Failure to Accommodate, and Retaliation Standards

By BrownWinick | 06.28.2021

On Friday, June 25th, the Iowa Supreme Court filed a decision addressing several issues under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. In Rumsey v. Woodgrain Millwork, Inc., a discharged employee filed disability discrimination and retaliation claims against his former employer. The employee was injured at work in early 2015, and the employer provided the... Read More

Iowa Supreme Court Decides Key Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Law Questions, Provides Leniency to Iowa Businesses

By BrownWinick | 06.25.2021

This morning, Friday, June 25, 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court filed decisions in two cases involving Iowa’s private sector drug and alcohol testing law. Under the decisions, Iowa employers will not be held liable for violating Iowa’s private sector drug and alcohol testing law so long as they “substantially comply” with the provisions of the law.... Read More

OSHA Issues Emergency Standard for Health Care

By BrownWinick | 06.22.2021

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) establishing heightened COVID-19 workplace safety regulations for most healthcare providers in the United States. In addition to workplace safety requirements, the ETS also reincarnates mandatory paid time off for employees,... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 18 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.17.2021

The Senate has advanced a sweeping tax bill crafted as a compromise between the chamber and Governor Kim Reynolds. SF 619 cleared both the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees last Tuesday, making it eligible for floor debate. Among other things, the measure would remove the revenue benchmarks the state must meet, or “triggers” for 2018... Read More

State of Iowa Ending Participation in COVID-Related Unemployment Programs Next Month

By BrownWinick | 05.12.2021

Citing a strong labor market, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced yesterday that on June 12, 2021, the state will be ending its participation in federal COVID-related unemployment benefit programs. These enhanced unemployment benefits were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020, and provide... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 17 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.10.2021

The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a tax proposal last Thursday (HF 893)—the day after the Senate and Governor Kim Reynolds introduced their own compromise bill (SSB 1276). Mental health funding is one of the main differences between the two proposals. Reynolds and the Senate are calling to phase out the mental health property... Read More

Pandemic Poses Potential Re-Entry Problems for Lawful Permanent Residents Abroad

By BrownWinick | 05.03.2021

We are now several weeks beyond the one-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization recognizing COVID-19 as a global pandemic. While historic vaccine rollout accelerates across the United States, worldwide vaccine distribution efforts display inequities elsewhere. Moreover, travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantine orders... Read More