Kevin J. Visser

Kevin Visser tries cases to juries and judges and handles the appeals from such decisions, as demonstrated in the public record, noted here. Of the 150 federal cases where he has served as lead counsel, and several hundred more in state courts, 70+ have been tried to verdict or judgment in 22 Iowa counties and five federal judicial districts, resulting in judgments, stock awards, or verdicts for firm clients of more than $77,000,000 in 14 of these cases - several of which involved prevailing defendants. In excess of 30 appellate decisions have followed these trials, divided between the Iowa appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals. Substantive issues in these cases primarily involve business torts, shareholder disputes, ownership or use of intellectual property (including trade secrets and fair competition questions), and employment issues (including class actions). Industries in which these cases have arisen vary from manufacturing to renewable energy to insurance, finance, transportation, retail, the legal profession, franchising, organized labor, and agriculture.

For the firm’s clients that remain union organized, Mr. Visser has served as lead negotiator for more than 20 collective bargaining agreements and attendant issues which have arisen regarding unionized employment. 

Mr. Visser’s work for clients has been consistently recognized by peers in Chambers USA®, The Best Lawyers® in America and Super Lawyers. He is also an AV Rated attorney with Martindale-Hubbell®. Mr. Visser’s professional affiliations included the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Mason Ladd Inn of Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA), the Linn County Bar Association (LCBA), and the AGC Labor Lawyers Council. Mr. Visser was a member of the United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa in 2014 and 2016.
 

Mr. Visser regularly presents to public and private groups on topics related to business or employment trial practice. He is the firm’s primary contact with the USLAW Network and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors.
 

 

Recent articles:

• Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Seven SPMB Attorneys

Honors & Awards

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America© list, 2012 - 2019
  • Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management
• Best Lawyers® 2015 "Lawyer of the Year" - Employment Law - Management
• AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
• Ranked in Chambers USA, 2010 - 2018
  • Employment Law
  • Litigation: General Commercial
• Included in Great Plains Super Lawyers list, 2007, 2009 - 2018
  • Named to Iowa Top 10 Attorneys by Super Lawyers, 2014

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Iowa State Bar Association
  • Litigation Section
  • Labor and Employment Section
• Linn County Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
• Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Dean Mason Ladd American Inn of Court
• AGC Labor Lawyers Council
• USLAW NETWORK, Inc.
• United States Magistrate Judge Merit Reappointment Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 2003 & 2014
• United States Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 2016

 

Notable Matters

Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, No. 15-0574 (Iowa Supreme Court 2017)

• Iowa Supreme Court reversed the 2015 order of a trial judge denying Homeland Energy, LLC a new trial based upon improper instructions of law requested by the Homeland's former lab manager. The Court's 173-page, three-opinion ruling vacates a $2.5MM judgment and announces the elements of Iowa law on a sexually hostile work environment, the standard for retaliation claims, and constructive discharge.

Busse, et al. v. Busse, et al., No. LACV083022 (Ia. Dist. Bus. Ct. 2017)
Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law, and Judgment Entry

• Jury rejects 14 theory Petition by disappointed shareholders and beneficiaries and court orders return of voting control of commercial real estate firm to its benefactor and managing director.

Dubuque Injection Service Company, Inc. v. Kress (Iowa Court of Appeals 2017)

• Appellate Court refuses to order new jury trial for managing shareholder’s misappropriation of corporate funds after trial judge allows evidence of a non-party’s extraneous litigation to discredit closely-held business’ claims.

Bruening Rock Products v. Hawkeye International Trucks (Iowa Court of Appeals 2015)

• $1.4MM jury verdict for failure to provide 74,000 lb. GVWR mining trucks reinstated by Court of Appeals, reversing post-trial grant of directed verdict.

Branimir Catipovic v. Mark Turley, No. C11-3074 (N.D. Iowa 2014)

• Jury verdict in favor of promoter of first American-style ethanol plant in Europe for unjust enrichment in the amount of $2,000,000

LaRhonda Austin v. CRST Expedited, Inc., No. C13-91 (N.D. Iowa 2015)

• Jury verdict against driver on her state and federal claims of sexual harassment, constructive discharge, and punitive damages, and for employer on its counterclaims

J. Richard Ransel, Trustee of the Estate of John Kaufman v. CRST Dedicated Services, Inc., No. 2:10-cv-466 (N.D Ind. 2015)

• Jury verdict and judgment in favor of trucking employer on Plaintiff’s FMLA interference claim and FMLA retaliation claim. Plaintiff’s Indiana retaliatory discharge claim dismissed on directed verdict. Summary judgment previously entered on 03/24/2014 in favor of Defendant and against Plaintiff on Plaintiff’s ERISA interference claim and Indiana Wage Claims statute claim

Front Range Equine Rescue, et al. v Tom Vilsack, Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture, et al, No. 13-2187 (10th Cir. 2013)

• Court of Appeals denies animal rights activists’ efforts to enjoin Iowa equine abattoir entrepreneurs

Jackson and Adams v CRST Expedited, Inc., No. LACV73594 (Ia. Dist. Ct. 2014)

• Jury verdict against drivers on their public policy discharge claims and for employer on its counterclaims, including fee award

St. Malachy Roman Catholic Congregation of Geneseo, Illinois, et al. v Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., et al, __N.W.2d __ (Iowa 2013)

• Iowa Supreme Court applies duty to carry out transfers to intended beneficiaries to a decedent’s financial advisors as well as his lawyers

American Family Mutual Insurance Company v Hollander, 705 F.3d 339 (8th Cir. 2013)

• Appellate court affirms $343,000 2011 jury verdict plus more than $300,000 in attorney fees and costs for defendant independent insurance agent sued by financial institution

Art’s Way Vessels, Inc., 358 NLRB No. 142 (2012)

• NLRB adopts employer’s backpay measure, affirming ALJ decision rejecting Peoria Regional Director’s overreaching proposed measure

Arthur Harris v. CRST Van Expedited, Inc., No. 13-cv-119 (N.D. Iowa 2015)

• Jury verdict for employer against driver on his FMLA claims

Robert F. Kazimour Co. v West Side Unlimited Corp., 820 N.W.2d 159 (Iowa App. 2012)

• Court of Appeals affirms 2010 arbitration award in favor of defendant acquiring entity in failed merger

Eastman v Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 837 N.W.2d 681 (Iowa App. 2013)

• Iowa Court of Appeals refuses to extend public policy retaliation protection to employee who complained of ethanol plant’s director election proceedings

EEOC v CRST, 670 F.3d 897, 679 F.3d 657 (8th Cir. 2012)

• Appeals court vindicates district court’s summary judgment rulings rejecting EEOC systemic sex harassment claims and sets aside, without prejudice, a $4.5 million attorney fee award to prevailing defendant

U.S. Bank, N.A., Executor of the Estate of Michael G. O’Donnell, Sr., Deceased, vs. Johnson Gas Appliance Company, Inc., No. LACV061704 (Ia. Dist. Ct. 2011)

• District judge rejects exaggerated stock redemption value advanced by deceased shareholder’s expert and orders stock redemption to be specifically performed

Brown v McGraw-Hill, 526 F. Supp. 2d 950 (N.D. Iowa 2007)

• As noted in this award of defense costs, jury rejected $2.8MM claim for business torts and contract breach associated with earn-out and employment provisions of the acquisition of a reading company by an industry leader

Estate of Frink v Flowerama et al— 725 N.W.2d 658 (Iowa Ct. App. 2006)

• Iowa Court of Appeals affirms grant of summary judgment in favor of franchisor and its officers and against claims of estate of majority shareholder that contractual term “book value” meant “fair market value” of shares and ordering redemption of shares at contract price

Bodnarek et al v BRK Wireless (S.D. Iowa, 2005)

• Judge rejects former managers’ tort claims limiting wireless firm’s liability to former managers to unpaid contractual wages in weeklong jury trial

Iowa Midland Supply v Mid-Iowa Tool (Iowa District Court, Linn County, 2005)

• Jury rejects claims of competitor that tool supplier unfairly interfered with customer relationship of plaintiff and the former Amana Refrigeration

Diamond v Midwest Agric. Warehouse Co., 2004 Iowa App. LEXIS 435 (Iowa Ct. App. 2004)

• Appellate court affirms district court’s six figure award to agricultural products distributor on its counterclaim against its former salesman, and further affirms failure of salesman’s claim

BBSerCo v Metrix, 324 F.3d 955 (8th Cir. 2003)

• Appellate panel affirms blood serum harvester and distributor’s six figure jury verdict for compensatory and punitive damages against slaughterhouse for fraud

McGrane v Saks, Inc., 36 Fed. Appx. 568 (8th Cir. 2002)

• Panel affirms six figure sex discrimination jury verdict against publicly owned retailer on behalf of experienced saleswoman

Iverson v Johnson Gas Appliance Co. (U.S. D.C., Minnesota, 2000)

• Following 8th Circuit reversal of grant of motion to dismiss, Minnesota federal jury rejects claims of manager of fireplace retail outlet for breach of contract and business torts, seeking compensatory and punitive damages

S & W Agency, Inc., et al v Foremost Insurance Company, et al., 51 F. Supp.2d 983 (1998), aff’d, No. 98-2132 (8th Cir. 1999)

• Iowa insurance agent twice obtains multi-million dollar judgment on fraud, contract, and trade secret theories against publicly owned insurance company, affirmed by appellate court

Berg v Norand Corp., 169 F.3d 1140 (8th Cir. 1999)

• Appellate panel affirms grant of summary judgment to employer on former controller’s ADA claim

Kim v Nash Finch, 123 F.3d 1046 (8th Cir. 1997)

• Iowa jury awards $8.7MM to Korean-born warehouse leadman on multiple claims of failure to promote and retaliation under Section 1981 and Title VII in one of the first jury trials under the 1991 Civil Rights Act. Trial court additionally awards promotion and attorney fees. On appeal, court holds that district court improperly imposed Title VII’s damage caps to plaintiff’s verdict

Moore Business Forms v Wilson, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 33854 (8th Cir. 1996)

• Federal Court of Appeals affirms then-District Judge Michael Melloy’s grant of injunctive relief on behalf of business forms manufacturer and distributor against husband and wife former employees who violated terms of contractual post-employment restrictions on soliciting manufacturer’s customers

EEOC v Cherry-Burrell Corp., 35 F.3d 356 (8th Cir. 1994)

• Circuit Court affirmed portions of district court’s Equal Pay Act award to buyer of carton-manufacturer

Palen v Gannett (Iowa District Court, Linn County, 1994)

• Jury verdict for television station on sales executive’s claims for breach of contract and employment torts after 3 week trial

Cedar Valley Corp v NLRB, 1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 31322 (8th Cir. 1992)

• Appellate court refuses to grant petition of employer who Labor Board assessed with liability under a long-dormant Section 8(f) construction labor agreement

Diversified Fastening Services v Rogge, 786 F. Supp. 1486 (N.D. Iowa 1991)

• District court enjoins fastener distributor’s former employee under Iowa’s UTSA

United States v Vogt, 901 F.2d 100 (8th Cir. 1990)

• Appellate panel affirms refusal of district court to allow government to revoke plea agreement after it has knowingly taken advantage of its benefits

Norand v Parkin, 785 F. Supp. 1353 (N.D. Iowa 1989)

• District Court enjoins marketing executive with no non-competition agreement from threatened inevitable disclosure of tech firm’s rival under authority of Iowa’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act

Teamsters Local 238 v CRST, Inc., 795 F.2d 1400 (8th Cir. 1986) (en banc)

• En banc court reverses divided panel addressing extent to which employer may impose unilateral terms and conditions of employment on labor union members, post-impasse and after expiration of collective bargaining agreement, and affirms District Court’s full granting of summary judgment for employer