A LONG TRADITION OF LEGAL EXPERTISE AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

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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, 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 is the President of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association.

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, and her three children, Jocelyn, Hayden, and Landon. She is active in her community blogging and speaking about issues that face working mothers in today’s society.

Areas Of Practice

  • Civil Litigation
  • Appeals
  • Dram Shop Claims
  • Employment Litigation
  • Unemployment Litigation & Appeals
  • Employment Discrimination Defense
  • Personal Injury 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

  • Martindale Hubbell, AV Rating
  • 2018 Iowa Defense Counsel President’s Award
  • Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2020 to present
  • Lead Counsel Verified Since 2021, Litigation and Appeals
  • 2021 Iowa Defense Counsel Edward F. Seitzinger Award
    President Elect, Iowa Defense Counsel Association
  • 2021-2022 Member, Iowa Rules of Evidence Task Force
  • 2023 – President, Iowa Defense Counsel Association

Professional Associations And Memberships

  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2022
  • 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, 2019 to Present
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Membership Committee, Marketing Chair
  • Scott County Bar Association, Member
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association, 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