Attorneys
An 8-year-old child was attending a family members’ birthday party when she walked over to see their dogs. The dogs viciously attacked her causing numerous lacerations including several to her face and neck. Due to the severity of the injuries, the insurance company for the family member offered their policy limits of $500,000. A Conservatorship was required to be opened and if the money was paid into the Conservatorship a bond would have to be posted taking a significant amount of the settlement for the child, credit checks would be required of the parents, annual reports would need to be filed and the money could only be kept in a FDIC insured bank account earning minimal interest. Instead of dealing with the hassle of the Conservatorship requirements and spending the child’s money to post a bond, a pre-settlement annuity was purchased using an independent structured settlement company, not the one the insurance company recommended that they were paid a kick back from. The independent company was able to secure a much better annuity that will pay the child more than $1,500,000 in tax free income before she reaches 60 years of age.
A woman from out of state was visiting relatives in western Iowa with her young daughter. While at her relative’s home, the neighbor’s dog approached the child and she bent down to pet the family dog. The dog jumped at her face and bit her twice. The lacerations required the child to be sedated and the lacerations were repaired using sutures. Thankfully, her wounds healed without complications and she now only has minimal scaring that is not noticeable unless it is pointed out. The case was settled for more than $110,000 from which an annuity was purchased paying her more than $250,000 in tax free money before she turns 30. Under Iowa law a Conservatorship was required to be opened as the settlement exceeded $50,000 and our attorneys handled the Conservatorship at no extra cost to the child or her parents.
Central Iowa parents were with their daughter at a local campground enjoying a weekend away from home. They went to fellow campers’ site whom they had gotten to know over the summer. The young girl asked if she could pet their dog who seemed calm and nice. The dog owner said she could pet the dog and when she did the dog lunged at her biting her in the face. She was taken to the local emergency room where they did a local anesthesia in the area of the lacerations and then put in stitches to close the wound. She made a good recovery and there were no problems without infection. There was some minimal scaring so about one year later she went to see a plastic surgeon to see if there was anything that could be done. The plastic surgeon did not recommend anything so we attempted to settle her case without filing a lawsuit against the fellow camper. After a few weeks of negotiations, we were able to reach an agreement that a pre-suit annuity will be purchased paying her upwards of $120,000 in tax free income over the next 16 years.
