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Amanda Richards has practiced in the area of civil litigation since 2003. Originally from Princeton, Illinois, she attended Illinois College and Drake University Law School where she graduated with honors. While attending law school, Amanda worked in the legal department of an insurance company learning all aspects of insurance defense. It was through this experience that Amanda discovered her passion for defense litigation and her drive to be a strong voice for her clients during the litigation process.
Amanda practices in all areas of civil litigation, specializing in personal injury, medical/pharmaceutical malpractice, insurance bad faith, traumatic brain injury, premises liability, dram shop, labor/employment law, insurance coverage, declaratory actions, and unemployment matters. In 2020, she was inducted into the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. She served as the President of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association from 2023-2024 and is currently on the Board of Governors of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Amanda is an avid writer and specializes in all stages of motion and appellate practice from administrative appeals, unemployment appeals, and litigation appeals to the state and federal appellate courts. She has argued in front of the Iowa and Illinois Appellate courts. She often teaches and presents at seminars and conferences sharing cutting edge techniques in discovery, trial tactics, and employment law matters.
Outside the courtroom Amanda resides in Bettendorf with her husband, Todd, their three children, Jocelyn, Hayden, and Landon. She is active in her community volunteering through the Pleasant Valley Community School District and serving as a handler to her two therapy dogs (Skylar and Remy) through Quad Cities Canine Assistance Network (QCCAN).
Areas Of Practice
- Civil Litigation
- Appeals
- Dram Shop Claims
- Employment Litigation
- Unemployment Litigation & Appeals
- Employment Discrimination Defense
- Personal Injury Defense
- Medical/Podiatric Malpractice Defense
- Pharmacy Malpractice Defense
- Insurance Coverage/ Bad Faith
Bar Admissions
- Iowa
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
Education
- Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
- J.D. - 2003
- Honors: With Honors
- Illinois College
- B.A. - 2000
- Honors: summa cum laude
Honors And Awards
- 2021-2022 Member, Iowa Rules of Evidence Task Force
- 2021 Iowa Defense Counsel Edward F. Seitzinger Award President Elect, Iowa Defense Counsel Association
- Lead Counsel Verified Since 2021, Litigation and Appeals
- Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2020 to present
- Martindale Hubbell, AV Rating
- 2018 Iowa Defense Counsel President's Award
- 2023 –2024 President, Iowa Defense Counsel Association
- 2022 – Inductee, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA)
- 2023-Present Iowa State Bar Association Jury Verdict Taskforce
- 2024 – Board of Governors, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
- 2024 – DRI Exceptional Performance Citation
Professional Associations And Memberships
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2022-present
- Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow 2020-present
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member
- Iowa State Bar Association, Member
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member
- Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Member
- Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Board of Directors, 2010-2013, 2019 to Present
- Iowa Defense Counsel Membership Committee, Marketing Chair
- Scott County Bar Association, Member
- Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Past President
Classes And Seminars
- Panelist, What’s new in Bad Faith Litigation? Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company Annual Meeting
- Speaker, The Dream Team: Defending Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation, Iowa Defense Counsel Annual Meeting
- Speaker, Iowa Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, “Turning off Auto Pilot: Fresh Ideas in Defending Common Personal Injury Cases”
- Speaker, Iowa Defense Counsel Spring Meeting, “A Whole New Courtroom: Updating Trial Tactics in Today’s Society”
- Speaker, Rock Island County Bar Association Fall Seminar, “Legal Tortoise and Hare: A comparison of Iowa and Illinois Discovery Rules”
- Panel Member, Scott County Bar Association Last Chance Seminar, “E-Discovery Panel Discussion
- Speaker , Rock Island County Bar Association Fall Seminar, “The Art of Objections”
- Instructor, NBI Seminars, Advanced Employment Law Seminar.
- Instructor, Iowa Defense Counsel Deposition Bootcamp
- Speaker, PRIMA Conference on Tips for Effective Claims Management
- Speaker, BNM Employment Workshop, Bad Faith & Penalty
- Co-Speaker with Jeff Boehlert: Iowa Verdict Trends and Effects on Settlement, Iowa Defense Counsel Annual Meeting
- Co-Speaker with Ann Gronlund: Iowa Civil Verdict Trends, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Meeting