Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. - Dickinson Bradshaw News

Iowa Supreme Court Overturns Decades’ Old Precedent Regarding Interpretation of Tax Statutes

cedwards@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:20:15 +0000

For decades, attorneys and accountants practicing before the Iowa Department of Revenue (“Department”) got used to the same ol’ defense argued by the Department regarding tax statutes.

Statutes which impose taxes are construed liberally in favor of the taxpayer and strictly against the taxing body and conversely, tax exemptions are construed strictly against the taxpayer and liberally in favor of the taxing body.

The Iowa Supreme Court made this statement 45 years ago in Iowa Auto Dealers Ass'n v. Iowa Dep't of Revenue, 301 N.W.2d 760, 762–63 (Iowa 1981) and this has been a significant tool used by the Department in defending its positions, particularly when taxpayers are relying on exemption statutes. However, the Iowa Supreme Court recently overturned 45 years of precedent in Chickasaw Cnty. Bd. of Rev. v. Prop. Assessment Appeal Bd., 36 N.W.3d 273, 283 (Iowa 2026).

There, the Iowa Supreme Court stated that “these principles of construction may actually contradict each other, as well as the plain language of the Iowa Code” and “[i]n the rare case where we have provided a justification for these principles of construction, our justifications were rooted in policy, an area better left to the legislature.” As a result, “[m]oving forward, . . . tax statutes [will be construed] according to their ordinary meaning and apply the same principles of construction we apply to any other type of statute.” And the court explicitly “overrule[d] . . . prior cases to the extent they say otherwise.” This case applies to all types of taxes (e.g., income tax, property tax, sales/use tax, excise taxes).

Taxpayers and practitioners should be cognizant of this change and ensure the tax statutes are being construed according to their ordinary meaning.

Attorney John Lande Covers Deepfake Wire Transfers in CLE Course

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:52:31 +0000

Who eats the loss when a deepfake authorizes a wire transfer: the customer or the bank?

Banking and cybersecurity attorney John Lande of Dickinson Bradshaw tackles this topic under UCC Article 4A in an upcoming session on August 27^th designed especially for attorneys for the myLawCLE platform. MyLawCLE offers accredited courses in all 50 states to over 70,000 lawyers across the U.S.

Attendees will leave able to identify which party bears loss under competing fact patterns, spot the contractual tripwires in funds transfer agreements, and advise clients on the procedural and substantive arguments most likely to succeed in deepfake-induced wire fraud disputes.

Register: Employment Law Compliance Workshop

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:50:02 +0000

In conjunction with the Iowa Bankers Association, Dickinson Bradshaw attorneys will be conducting an Employment Law Compliance Workshop for HR professionals on July 16.

Topics will include what we’re seeing today as AI continues to evolve, documentation and best practices, and important legal updates for financial institutions. Attendees will also workshop scenarios on hot button topics and how they affect both small and large banks, including how to:

Handle requests for religious accommodations.
Handle requests for accommodations related to employees with disabilities.
Handle coaching conversations with employees.
And more!

Agenda Announced: 2026 Banking Law Seminar

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:17:17 +0000

From AI agents to stablecoins, technology is rapidly reframing what banking looks like. At the same time, banks need to balance price stability, independence, and credibility in a world marked by geopolitical tensions and fragmented markets.

Don't miss our banking law seminar on Thursday, September 10th at the Hilton Rewind Hotel in West Des Moines; we'll help you balance changing technology demands with less-than-ideal economic conditions, while providing you with valuable information on the legal impacts to your bank's financial infrastructure.

A complete agenda has just been announced:

9:00 – 9:30: Check-in/Breakfast
9:30 – 9:35: Welcome with John Lande
9:35 – 10:00: Stablecoins with John Lande and Nick Ahlquist
10:00 – 10:15: Corporate Governance: Why You Should Care and Items to Update with Sierra McConnell
10:15 – 10:45: Retention of Employees: Noncompete & Non-Solicitation Agreements with Elissa Holman
10:45 – 11:00: Break
11:00 – 11:15: Cybersecurity Gone Wrong with Mary Zambreno
11:15 – 11:30: Check Fraud with Brennan Eddie
11:30 – 12:00: Raising Capital with Brad Kruse
12:00 – 12:45: Lunch
12:45 – 1:00: E-Sign Acceptability with Brennan Eddie
1:00 – 1:20: Best Practices: Receiverships and Workouts with Ben Bruner and Jeff Baxter
1:20 – 1:40: Creditors Rights Issues with Brad Kruse
1:40 – 2:00: Banking with Hemp and Cannabis-Related Entities with Brennan Eddie
2:00 – 2:10: Break
2:10 – 2:30: M&A: Common Mistakes, Why Deals Fail and How to Prevent it with Amy Plummer

Annual Bank Speech:

2:30 – 2:55: Shifting Regulatory Winds with John Lande
2:55 – 3:30: Directions, Anyone? With Howard Hagen

Register Today!

A complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served. There is no cost to attend, but seats are limited.

Click here to register

Dickinson Bradshaw Ranked in 2026 Chambers USA Guide

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:50:01 +0000

Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. has been ranked as one of the top firms in Iowa by Chambers USA in its annual survey, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2026.

Being recognized by Chambers and Partners—a preeminent global legal directory—is a testament to the exceptional caliber of our attorneys and the ongoing trust our clients and peers place in Dickinson Bradshaw.

Congratulations to the following attorneys who were selected for inclusion for the exceptional recommendations they received in their respective areas of law:

Banking & Finance

Howard Hagen - Star Individual

Corporate/M&A

Labor & Employment

Melissa Schilling

Litigation: General Commercial

Real Estate

Additional Recognition – Private Wealth Law

The Dickinson Bradshaw team is also ranked by Chambers in its annual High Net Worth Guide in the area of Private Wealth Law, including Attorneys David Repp and Greg Kenyon. The wills, trust, estate planning and probate law practice advises high net worth clients on a full suite of estate planning and tax matters, as well as advises on trusts and guardianships.

About Chambers and Partners

Chambers identifies, ranks and differentiates the best legal talent globally using an independent research method that is unmatched in accuracy, depth and quality.

Firms and attorneys are ranked in a limited number of categories in a tiered system from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) and were evaluated by Chambers researchers through peer review and client interviews regarding their experiences with individual attorneys and practice areas. The rankings assess key qualities, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and commitment. Being ranked in any band is a significant achievement, showing that a ranked firm or attorney has stood out in the most rigorous, independent and in-depth research process in the legal market.

Dickinson Bradshaw Attorneys Named 2026 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:09:51 +0000

We’re excited to share that ten attorneys from Dickinson Bradshaw have been named to the 2026 Great Plains Super Lawyers and Rising Stars listings across multiple practice areas.

Congratulations to the following attorneys:

Super Lawyers

Jeffrey D. Goetz – Bankruptcy

Joel T. S. Greer – Civil Litigation, General Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution

Howard Hagen – Banking

Gregory Kenyon – Elder Law, Estate Planning & Probate

F. Richard Lyford – General Litigation, Business Litigation, Construction Litigation

Richard Malm – Business Litigation

Sean O’Brien – Insurance Coverage, Construction Litigation, Civil Litigation

Mollie Pawlosky – Business Litigation

Melissa Schilling – Employment Litigation

Rising Stars

Elissa Holman - Employment Litigation: Defense, Employment & Labor: Employer, Civil Litigation: Defense, General Litigation

About Super Lawyers

Published annually, Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made through a multiphase process that includes statewide peer nominations, independent research evaluations, and peer reviews within practice areas.

No more than five percent of attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers list each year.

The Rising Stars list is reserved for attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys receive the distinction annually.

For more information, visit Super Lawyers.

Reframing & Rethinking Banking: 2026 Banking Law Seminar

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:16:38 +0000

A complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served. There is no cost to attend, but seats are limited. Click below to register.

Welcome New Summer Associates

noreply@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:20:49 +0000

Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C. is pleased to welcome our 2026 Summer Associates, (L-R): Emma Carlson, Abbie Boeding, and Madison Diaz.

Emma Carlson

Emma is currently attending the University of Iowa College of Law where she will graduate with the class of 2027. She holds an undergraduate degree in trauma studies with a minor in philosophy from Central College in Pella.

While obtaining her legal education, Emma worked at Kollmorgen, Schlue & Zahradnik, P.C. in Belle Plaine, Iowa, and has volunteered at Lavender Legal Center, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. In addition, she completed a course practicum at the Iowa City branch of Iowa Legal Aid.

As a native of southeast Iowa, Emma grew up in Fairfield, where her natural interests, including creative writing, led her to seek a career in the law.

“I have always loved to read, write, research, and stare into the middle distance apprehensively,” she said. “I think it is terribly fun to do all these things on behalf of others, and a legal career is the perfect fit.”

Emma is interested in diving into family law, but she is also excited to explore a range of practice areas alongside Dickinson Bradshaw’s attorneys this summer. “I’ve yet to meet an area of the law that didn’t interest me in at least one way,” she said.

She decided to pursue a summer position at the firm after meeting several attorneys at a University of Iowa event.

“I admired so much their wit, kindness, and clear dedication to their work – a combined ethos I very much wished to be part of as a summer associate. I am grateful to have gotten the chance,” she added.

Outside of academia, Emma enjoys writing creatively, which has shaped the way she approaches ideas and communication.

“I feel it has made me highly attentive to the nuance of language and the power it holds, especially in the legal context,” she commented.

Emma enjoys several interests outside of the office, including spending time with her friends and family, playing piano and guitar, reading contemporary poetry and short-form personal essays, rooting for her favorite WNBA players, as well as cooking, sewing, drawing, painting, and losing quite badly at long games of chess.

Emma and her partner are two loving moms to their rescue dog, Mione.

Abbie Boeding

Abbie graduated from Waukee High School in 2020 and went on to attend the University of Iowa where she graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish. She currently attends the University of Iowa College of Law where she will also graduate with the class of 2027.

While at Iowa Law, she serves as research assistant to Professor Mary Ksobiech and participates in appellate moot court where she recently competed in the 2026 Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Moot Court Competition.

Last summer Abbie clerked for Magistrate Judge Helen Adams (a former long-time Dickinson attorney), at the District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Abbie decided to pursue a legal degree because she wanted to make a difference.

“I want a career that is financially stable and to feel like I am making a difference in someone’s life,” she commented. “I love to problem solve and collaborate.”

With an interest primarily in transactional work, Abbie is open to exploring corporate work, bankruptcy law, and serving small businesses while at Dickinson Bradshaw this summer.

“I have heard such great things about the people and culture here, and the variety of practice areas gives me an opportunity to find my interests,” she said.

Outside of work, Abbie is an experienced yoga instructor and she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and baking in her spare time.

Madison Diaz

Madison was raised in Miami, Florida and grew up speaking Spanish as her first language. Her parents homeschooled her and her four younger siblings at their financial planning firm, where they learned from real-world examples of math, client interactions, and business planning.

Her family relocated to Waverly, Iowa, just as she was starting her senior year of high school, and she later graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School.

Madison went on to attend Grand View University and finished her degree in just three years. Currently, she is a student at Drake University Law School where she served as a junior staff member of the Drake Law Review and will graduate with the class of 2027.

Her accounting degree, combined with experience in her family’s firm, sparked Madison’s interest in distinguishing herself by obtaining a law degree and becoming an attorney with a focus on estate planning. She would also like to explore the related area of tax law while at Dickinson Bradshaw this summer.

“The attorneys and staff at Dickinson Bradshaw were very kind to me during my interview process and took an interest in my upbringing and relevant experiences,” she said. “Also, the firm’s estate planning attorneys seemed very knowledgeable and helpful.”

While at Drake law, Madison was able to use her bilingual skills and legal training to assist Dickinson Bradshaw attorneys at the firm’s annual Financial and Powers of Attorney and Simple Wills Clinic at Drake Law this past fall.

“It was a great experience for me. I loved being able to use my ability to speak Spanish to help someone in the career I want to work in.”

Outside of the classroom and office, Madison has been a wrestler since she was nine years old. And, before that, she participated in judo and jiujitsu.

“My entire family wrestles, so it’s a really big part of my life,” she adds.

She recently finished her last college season this spring and is now an assistant coach for the Grand View women’s wrestling team.

“I was blessed to become a four time College All-American, which was a goal I never even dreamed of accomplishing throughout high school or my early college years,” she said.

When she’s not studying, working, or wrestling, she spends much of her spare time with her parents, siblings, brother-in-law, and her two amazing nephews.

Wire Fraud in the Age of AI

jlande@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:43:01 +0000

Wire transfer fraud continues to be a major source of loss for both banks and businesses. Though the schemes vary, they typically result in unauthorized transfers being initiated through an online banking portal. Fraudsters have become skilled at exploiting both human vulnerabilities and system weaknesses to move funds.

The risks of unauthorized wire transfers have been amplified by the recent release of the latest Mythos artificial intelligence (“AI”) platform. The reported capabilities of the newest Mythos platform should concern risk and security professionals of all kinds:

Anthropic said Mythos could identify and exploit “zero-day” flaws in every important IT operating system and web browser – if a user asked it to do so.

(The Guardian, What is Mythos AI and why could it be a threat to global cybersecurity?). In other words, Mythos, and other AI engines, will soon turbocharge fraudsters’ ability to breach protected systems.

One of the major risks for organizations is that AI will make it even harder to protect against unauthorized wire transfers. Understanding how liability is allocated between banks and their customers is therefore essential.

Liability allocation is governed by Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) Article 4A. Courts have consistently held that Article 4A provides the exclusive means of recovering an unauthorized payment order, which generally bars customers from bringing negligence claims against their banks.

So, what does Article 4A require? In short, banks that agree with their customers to validate wire transfers using a commercially reasonable security procedure—and follow that procedure in good faith—will generally avoid liability for transfers that later turn out to be unauthorized. The critical questions become: (1) did the bank and customer agree on a commercially reasonable security procedure, and (2) did the bank follow it in good faith?

The release of Mythos and other advanced AI models threatens to upend what counts as “commercially reasonable.” The UCC’s drafters were intentionally vague when drafting the security standard because they intended it to evolve with technology. As AI models capable of cracking bank security proliferate, the standard for security procedures will inevitably shift.

In the wake of a significant wire transfer loss, parties should focus first on recovering funds from the receiving bank. If those funds are no longer available and insurance does not cover the loss, the bank and customer may be left to litigate whether the security procedures were commercially reasonable.

Under Kwong, You May Be Entitled to a Refund or Abatement of Penalties and Interest the IRS Assessed During January 2020 through July 2023

cedwards@dickinsonbradshaw.com (Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.) — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:57:36 +0000

Taxpayers who were assessed penalties and interest by the IRS during January 20, 2020 through July 10, 2023 may be entitled to refunds or abatements as a result of the COVID‑19 federal disaster declaration. The potential relief is significant, but it is not automatic. To preserve your rights, taxpayers should file a claim for refund or abatement by July 10, 2026.

Why this issue is surfacing now

A recent court decision—Kwong v. United States, 179 Fed. Cl. 382 (Nov. 2025)—is potentially reshaping how a key Internal Revenue Code provision applies to disasters. As written when the COVID emergency began, Internal Revenue Code § 7508A(d) provides an automatic postponement of filing and payment deadlines while a federal disaster declaration is in effect, plus 60 additional days.

For COVID‑19, the federal disaster declaration ran from January 20, 2020, through May 11, 2023. Adding 60 days extended the postponement period to July 10, 2023. Under Kwong’s reasoning, returns and payments otherwise due at any time in that window were not required to be filed or paid and therefore were not late until after July 10, 2023. The IRS is expected to appeal the Kwong decision, but if that interpretation stands, the IRS should not have assessed late‑filing, non-filing, or late‑payment penalties for obligations due within the federal disaster declaration period.

What this could mean for you

If your filing or payment obligations fell between January 20, 2020, and July 10, 2023, and you were assessed penalties and interest for failing to file on time, failing to pay, or failing to make estimated payments during the period you may be entitled to a refund of that money paid or to have certain assessments removed. It may also include interest that began accruing earlier than it should have—or not at all—along with potential overpayment interest for the 2020–2023 disaster period.

This is not a niche issue. Individuals, small businesses, large corporations, estates, and trusts have all been assessed penalties and interest during these years. If the Kwong interpretation ultimately prevails, affected taxpayers should be eligible for refunds of amounts already paid and abatements of amounts that remain unpaid. For cases still in litigation, the IRS would be constrained from assessing these penalties and interest for the relevant years.

How to claim a refund or abatement

A refund or abatement requires action from the taxpayer. The IRS generally does not issue refunds or abate assessed amounts unless you file a claim. In most situations, a claim must be filed within the later of three years from the date you filed the return or two years from the date you paid the tax. For many taxpayers impacted by the COVID disaster period, that means filing by July 10, 2026.

To claim the refund or abatement, taxpayers should use Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. You can find the form and instructions on the IRS website. Given that litigation is ongoing and appellate guidance may evolve, taxpayers who meet the basic criteria for a refund or abatement under Kwong should consider filing a protective claim to preserve your rights before deadlines pass. A protective claim does not require the IRS to act immediately, but it keeps your refund rights open while the legal issues are resolved.

Next steps

Taxpayers can assess their eligibility for potential refund or abatement by identifying any returns or payments that were due between January 20, 2020, and July 10, 2023 and determine whether there were any penalties or interest associated with those filings. Taxpayers can do this by obtaining copies of their tax transcripts or by reviewing IRS notices assessing penalties or interest tied to those missed or late-filed returns or payments. Evaluate whether those assessments align with the federal disaster declaration period described above. If they do not, prepare and submit Form 843 with a concise explanation referencing IRC § 7508A(d) and the reasoning in Kwong v. United States. Where timing is tight or facts are complex, a protective claim can be a prudent safeguard.

Final thoughts

The potential scope of refunds and abatements from the COVID federal disaster declaration period is vast, but the window to act is not. Mark July 10, 2026, on your calendar, and consider reviewing any penalties and interest associated with your 2020–2023 tax returns and payments as soon as possible. Taking timely steps can preserve your ability to recover penalties and interest that may have been assessed contrary to the statute’s postponement rules.