IOWA SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES SHOULDER IMPAIRMENT IN KOELLER AND KLEIN

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Aug 25, 2026 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

In Koeller v. Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation and Klein v. Whirlpool Corporation, the Iowa Supreme Court held that interpretation of the 5th Edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (“the Guides”) is a question of law for the courts. The Court determined that Table 16-27 controls the impairment rating for a […]

THE TEACHER EXCEPTION FOR CALCULATING AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE IN IOWA

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Aug 10, 2026 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Although sometimes overlooked, calculating the average weekly wage of an employee can involve a complex process. One of the most common exceptions to the general rules for calculating an average weekly wage is for teachers or para-educators who defer a portion of their salary over the summer. In Iowa, the statute dictates that employers pay […]

NAVIGATING INJURIES CAUSED BY HORSEPLAY IN THE WORKPLACE IN IOWA

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Jul 8, 2026 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Under Iowa law, for a workplace injury to be compensable it must both “arise out of” and be “in the course of” employment. Horseplay in the workplace is an activity that may or may not be a deviation from work, and thus not “in the course of” employment for determining if an injury is compensable. […]

IOWA SUPREME COURT PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON SETTLING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS WHEN A SECOND INJURY FUND CLAIM IS INVOLVED

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Apr 27, 2026 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

One of the most challenging aspects of managing a claim in which the employee is also alleging a Second Injury Fund claim is achieving a full and final settlement. Recently, the Iowa Supreme Court handed down a decision in Kingsbury v. Second Injury Fund, which has the potential to make the process a lot easier. […]

2026 IOWA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Feb 26, 2026 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

H.F. 450 (Senate companion bill listed as S.F. 454) – A bill relating to the standards for determination of loss or permanent impairment for purposes of PPD, including applicability provisions. Explanation: Under the current structure, determinations of the extent of loss or percentage of permanent impairment for purposes of PPD use the AMA guides. This […]

IOWA COURT OF APPEALS DETERMINES THAT SKIN INJURIES INVOLVING MULTIPLE SCHEDULED MEMBERS DO NOT ENTITLE CLAIMANTS TO AN ASSESSMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DISABILITY IN LAGUERRE V. JBS USA HOLDINGS, INC.

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Nov 10, 2025 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Recently, the Iowa Court of Appeals rejected a claimant’s argument that skin injuries to multiple scheduled members should be measured on an industrial basis. Essentially, in 2017, changes were made to ICA 85.34(2), which details scheduled members.  The theory is that any anatomy not specifically listed as a scheduled member results in the same being […]