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 […]

IOWA SUPREME COURT: FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT APPLIES DESPITE EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Oct 7, 2025 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Iowa Supreme Court has clarified an issue in workers’ compensation law: if an injured worker returns to work with the same employer and earns the same or greater wages than before their injury—and then subsequently resigns—their compensation is limited to functional impairment—not loss of earning capacity. In Den Hartog Industries v. Dungan, decided on […]

IOWA PENALTY STATUTE BREAKDOWN

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

Under the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Act employers and carriers must have a reasonable basis to deny a claim. Often times this rule gets talked about in the context of the common law tort actions for bad faith, but it is also important to remember that this rule also applies to penalties under the Iowa Workers’ […]

MICAH HAWKER-BOEHNKE AND PAUL BARTA TO SPEAK AT IOWA WC SYMPOSIUM IN JUNE

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | May 5, 2025 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

We’re proud to announce that two of our attorneys, Micah Hawker-Boehnke and Paul Barta, will be featured speakers at the upcoming Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee (IWCAC) Annual Symposium this June. The event is being held at The Meadows Events and Conference Center. Micah Hawker-Boehnke will present an “Appellate Case Law Update,” offering attendees a […]

IOWA COURT OF APPEALS’ OPINION ADDRESSES IMPACT OF FMLA LEAVE ON AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE CALCULATION

by Baylor Evnen, LLP | Dec 19, 2024 | BLOG, IOWA WORKERS' COMPENSATION, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Recently, in Hermanstorfer v. Lennox Industries, Inc., the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that an employee’s reduced hours due to taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the 13 weeks leading up to a work injury should not be included in the calculation of the employee’s average weekly wage (AWW). In […]