Work History:

Marquard Dispute Resolution and Consulting Services, 2019.  Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Stanley Consultants Inc, 1991- 2019; Adjunct Instructor, St. Ambrose University 2003-present; Partner and Trial Attorney, Snyder, Clarke, Dalziel and Johnson,1982- 1991; Associate Attorney, Kiesler & Berman, 1980-1982; Part Owner and Business Manager, New World Construction Co., 1984-1991; Chairman and Board Member, Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, 2005-2009. 

Experience:   

Stanley Consultants, a large international engineering firm. My primary responsibilities included risk and litigation management (normally large multi-party construction cases, including personal injury cases in both US and foreign venues. I provided assistance and guidance to trial counsel including first and second chair trial responsibilities. I also provide general legal services throughout the company including contract review and negotiation, regulatory review and employment law. I served on the company’s safety and alternate project delivery committees and chaired the risk management committee. I serve on the Board of Directors of the primary operating company, the design build company and served as managing partner and director of the company’s Chinese joint venture.

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The position involved considerable operational involvement in the Company’s engineering and construction projects. Building on my previous experience owning a construction company, I became a recognized expert in matters related to construction delay, construction defect and design negligence cases. Case types included structural failures, highway construction and accident claims, fire losses, power failure, electrical transmission line failure and personal injury and death claims resulting from these failures Projects included steam and gas powerplants, hydro-electric dams, high  voltage transmission lines, highway and road construction,  industrial facilities, marine facilities, casinos, industrial buildings and large-scale residential master planning. Experience working for an engineering firm and as a contractor have given me an understanding of construction issues from both the perspective of the designer and construction contractor. Working for an engineering firm allowed me to participate in construction and engineering project reviews, take in house courses on various aspects of design and construction (including OSHA training courses), and work at project sites. 

In over 11 years of Litigation experience, I tried 50 jury cases and 100 bench and arbitration trials. These cases Included a dispute between a pharmaceutical manufacturer and developer, several fire loss cases including a $50 million industrial fire loss, death and injury cases from automobile accidents and trucking accidents, product liability, construction accidents, medical malpractice, and civil rights cases involving police and government officials. Commercial litigation included breach of contract employment liability, business evaluation and attorney malpractice. I also served as an arbitrator in the court annexed arbitration system.

Experience as a member of the Environmental Protection Commission gave me experience judging cases and a deep understanding of environmental regulation.  As a member of the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission (governor appointed, senate confirmed) I gained experience in judging disputes, normally appeals or trials de novo under various state Environmental regulations or the APA. These trials were similar to arbitration. The commission sat as a court in determining liability, fines, penalties or injunctive relief. Similar to arbitration cases, the Commission was bound by state law and precedent while using modified rules of evidence and procedures.

My academic experience includes teaching courses on general business and business ethics at the MBA level and government related classes at the undergraduate level.