The firm provides traditional estate planning in the preparation of wills, trusts, and lifetime gifting. We have and continue to provide advice on the drafting of entities for the purpose of transferring wealth, including limited liability companies and trusts. We also prepare federal estate tax returns, gift tax returns, and fiduciary income tax returns for trusts and estates. We handle both probate and alternatives to probate administration. The firm advises clients on Medicaid (Title XIX) issues, including special needs trusts. We also work with individuals seeking to make charitable contributions.
Employment cases are handled both for employees and employers. Workers compensation and social security matters are pursued for claimants. Commercial litigation involves contract and financial issues.
Wrongful Termination
Employment claims are rapidly expanding as there are not only the intentional discrimination claims but also the wrongful termination issues. We have been involved in gender bias matters, sex discrimination as well as age discrimination and other statutorily protected rights of workers and employers.
Employment Discrimination
Employment Litigation
Stephen F. Avery attended the University of Iowa and graduated from law school in 1966. His areas of practice include: medical malpractice, personal injury, employment issues, product liability, will contests, toxic torts, contract problems and divorces. View Full Bio
The litigation practice includes personal injury for Plaintiffs including negligence, medical malpractice and products liability. In addition, the firm conducts an insurance defense practice for a few major insurance carriers.
Medical Malpractice
Whether it is a will contest, medical malpractice claim or problems with a restrictive covenant or non-compete, we will thoroughly explore the factual basis and provide an opinion of whether we feel your claim or defense is viable and why.
Social Security Disability
Our firm has years of experience in social security disability and workers compensation claims. We assist people who are injured in the course of their employment to obtain compensation they deserve.
Sarah Haack earned her bachelor’s degree from Augustana University in 2014 and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019. She joined Cornwall, Avery, Bjornstad, and Scott in September 2019. Sarah primarily focuses on real estate, probate, trust and estates, and estate planning.
Wills
His areas of practice include: medical malpractice, personal injury, employment issues, product liability, will contests, toxic torts, contract problems and divorces. Eighty percent of Steve’s time is involved with civil litigation within the Iowa State Court and Iowa Federal Courts and appeals to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In the many years of practice, his cases have involved will contests, medical malpractice, personal injuries from a variety of accidents, civil rights, and employment disputes, toxic torts, contract issues and defective products resulting with a loss.
Trusts
The transactional practice is not only an extensive real estate and title practice, but has an emphasis in trusts and estates. In addition, corporate and contract matters, along with some elder law issues, keep this section busy.