Joan M. Fletcher
Suite 1600
Des Moines, IA 50309
Introduction
Joan Fletcher retired from Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. on December 31, 2020.
- For employment law matters, please contact a member of the Employment & Labor Law group.
- For OSHA matters, please contact Melissa Schilling.
- For commercial litigation matters, please contact Mollie Pawlosky or John Lande.
Joan was a member of Dickinson’s litigation and employment groups and had significant experience in state and federal courts with complex commercial litigation, employment litigation, including matters involving non-compete and trade secret litigation, and insurance defense litigation.
Additionally, from 2002, Joan represented employers in the defense of OSHA citations, including reaching successful resolutions through informal and formal settlement processes. She was involved in the defense of OSHA citations involving fatalities, amputations and other significant injuries at all levels, from administrative proceedings, through appeals to state district court and the Iowa Court of Appeals and Iowa Supreme Court. Joan also successfully represented clients in informal investigations by OSHA, resulting in no citation being issued. She had experience defending employers against OSHA related whistleblower and retaliation claims.
Joan’s experience involved a wide variety of business sectors, including but not limited to:
- agricultural services
- construction
- food processors, manufacturers and retailers
- governmental entities
- heating and cooling
- industrial biosciences
- manufacturing facilities
- pipeline
- renewable energy
- transportation and delivery
Joan earned an AV rating from her peers in Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and adherence to the professional standards of conduct and ethics. She was selected for inclusion in the 2015 to 2020 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Litigation – Labor & Employment. Joan was also selected for inclusion in the Iowa Super Lawyers list published by Great Plains Super Lawyers magazine. She was a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America™ and a member of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association and the Defense Research Institute.
Practice Areas
Education & Background
- J.D., Drake University Law School (With Honors; Order of the Coif; Drake Law Review)
- M.A., Kansas State University
- B.S., University of Iowa
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2015 - 2021 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the following area:
- Litigation-Labor & Employment
Super Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2009 thru 2015 Great Plains Super Lawyers Lists in the area of Business Litigation.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
- 2018 “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment,” American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated since 2004 – the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.
Jurisdictions
Admitted to practice in the following states:
- Iowa
Admitted to practice before the following federal courts:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Memberships & Activities
- Litigation Counsel of America™
- Fellow, 2010-2020
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Member, Litigation Section Council, 2010-2020
- Defense Research Institute
- Member, 1990s-2020
- Iowa Defense Counsel Association
- Member, Commercial Litigation Committee, 1990s-2020
- Member, Tort and Insurance Law Committee, 1990s-2020
- Lincoln Inne
- American Bar Association
- Member, Litigation Section
- Member, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section
- Animal Rescue League of Iowa
- General Counsel
- Board of Directors, 2009-2020
- Children & Families of Iowa
- Board of Directors, 2002-2008
- President, 2005-2006
- Executive Committee Member, 2004-2008
- Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute
- Class of 2004-2005
Articles & Presentations
- Author, It's Official! New Amendments to Iowa's OSHA Statute Dramatically Increase Civil Penalties for Violations, Iowa Employer Law Blog, April 14, 2017
- Presenter, "What You Need to Know About the New Federal Trade Secrets Act," Employment Law Client Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, October 26, 2016
- Author, Federal OSHA Penalty Increases Take Effect in August 2016, Iowa Employer Law Blog, July 8, 2016
- Author, OSHA’s Revised Recordkeeping Requirements: Your Injury and Illness Reports are Going Public, Iowa Employer Law Blog, May 27, 2016
- Author, OSHA Updates Eye and Face Protection Standards in Final Rule, Iowa Employer Law Blog, April 6, 2016
- Author, Reminder: February 1, 2016 OSHA Form 300A Posting Deadline, Iowa Employer Law Blog, January 25, 2016
- Author, Make Hearsay Objections in Unemployment Hearings, Iowa Employer Law Blog, November 7, 2014
- Presenter, “Defending Claims on Multiple Fronts,” 2014 Employment Law Seminar, West Des Moines, Iowa, October 23, 2014
- Author, Supreme Court Holds Severance Payments Are Taxable Wages Under FICA, Iowa Employer Law Blog, April 15, 2014
- Author, New Iowa Supreme Court Decision on Subcontractors’ Remedies For Unpaid Work on Public Improvements, Iowa Employer Law Blog, February 4, 2014
- Author, Reminder: Iowa OSHA Form 300A Posting Requirements, Iowa Employer Law Blog, January 24, 2014
- Author, OSHA Proposes New Rule to Require Employers to Electronically Submit Data on Serious Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, Iowa Employer Law Blog, November 11, 2013
- Presenter, “Knock, Knock! Who’s There? Occupational Safety and Health Administration,” Employment Law Client Seminar, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., West Des Moines, Iowa, October 10, 2013
- Author, Reminder: Iowa OSHA Form 300A Posting Requirements, Iowa Employer Law Blog, January 18, 2013
- Author, Iowa Chapters, Business Torts: A Fifty-State Guide, Aspen Publishers, 2007-2012 editions
- Author, Iowa Chapters, Trade Secrets and Agreements Not to Compete: A State-by-State Compendium, Defense Research Institute, 2008
- Author, Federal Court Sides with Employer on OSHA Statute of Limitations Issue, Iowa Employer Law Blog, April 17, 2012
- Author, Reminder: Iowa OSHA Form 300A Posting Deadline Approaching, Iowa Employer Law Blog, January 30, 2012
- Author, Workplace Violence: Now OSHA Is Getting Involved, Iowa Employer Law Blog, October 3, 2011
- Author, OSHA Publishes Proposed Rulemaking to Prevent Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls on Walking-Working Surfaces, Iowa Employer Law Blog, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., May 24, 2010
- Author, “IOSHA Recordkeeping Requirements Reminder,” Hire Perspectives Newsletter, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Winter 2009/2010 Edition
- Author, “Recent Eighth Circuit Decision Has Significant Impact on General Contractors, Supports OSHA’S Controlling Employer Theory of Liability,” Hire Perspectives Newsletter, Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C., Spring 2009 Edition
- Author, Trial Practice Chapter, Iowa Legal Research Guide, 2002 Edition
- Author, Case Note 36, Drake Law Review 635, 1988
