Our firm handles a full range of family law matters including adoption, divorce, spousal support, separation, premarital agreements, paternity, child custody, visitation, and child support.
B.S., Arizona State University, 1978 and J.D., University of Iowa, 1984. Harold joined the firm in 1986. His general practice emphasizes municipal law, mediation, collaborative law, family, criminal defense, real estate, estate planning, probate, personal injury, contract, and employment law. Harold has lived in Sibley, Iowa since 1986. He was raised in the Graettinger area and graduated from Graettinger High School in 1974. He is married with five children.
Wrongful Death
Our firm has a strong track record of representing individuals who have been injured. Cases we have handled to successful conclusions include motor vehicle injuries, farm injuries, defective product injuries, wrongful death cases, diving cases, quadriplegia cases, brain injury cases, and work-related injuries.
Traffic Violations
Two members of our firm are former county attorneys. In 1998 we gave up prosecution and began representing defendants. We handle all types of criminal cases, from minor infractions and misdemeanors, such as traffic violations, to serious felony indictments.
J.D., Creighton University and B.B.A., University of Iowa. Mike joined the firm in 1985. His general practice emphasizes real estate, leases, estate planning, probate, trusts, corporate and business law, business formation, acquisition and sale of business, municipal law, adoptions, name changes, and taxation. He served as a member of the 3A District Judicial Nominating Commission (2006-2012) and the Judicial Magistrate Appointing Commission (2009-2020). He is a member and was past president of Kiwanis and is also a member of the Osceola County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association. He was previously on the Osceola Community Hospital Board of Trustees and past president, Village Northwest Unlimited Board and is past member of the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission (1996-2005). He resides in Sibley, Iowa with his wife, Beth. They have two children.
Business Formation
B.A. Political Science and Public Relations, Iowa State University, 2005 and J.D.- Litigation Concentration, Creighton University, 2013. Nathan joined the firm in 2013. He is licensed in Iowa and Minnesota. His work focuses on civil litigation including personal injury, insurance defense, debt collection, and business disputes. He also does estate planning, business formation, and probate work.
Business Disputes
B.A. philosophy and English, Calvin College, 1977; J.D., University of Iowa, 1980 (high distinction). Dan joined the firm in 1980. His general practice emphasizes civil litigation (personal injury, insurance defense, and business disputes), business and employment law, and estate planning and administration. He has been a past member of the Village Northwest Unlimited Board, the Sibley Library Board, Sibley Kiwanis, Iowa State Bar Association Legal Forms Committee (chair), Northwest Iowa Humane Society (president), and several church boards. Dan grew up in Maurice and Orange City, graduating from MOC High School in 1973. Dan’s father operated a machinery repair shop in Maurice and later was a Case-IH implement dealer in Orange City. Dan and his wife currently live in rural Dickinson county, Iowa. He has two children.
Limited Liability Companies
We grew up, live and work in an agricultural area of the Midwest. We have numerous farmer clients in Osceola, Lyon, Sioux, O’Brien and Dickinson Counties, many of whom have farm corporations, partnerships, or limited liability companies.
The firm has a strong business and employment law practice, serving many local companies with their legal needs. We advise employers on matters ranging from drafting employee handbooks; advice for terminating an employee; and wrongful discharge litigation. We are proud to be the attorneys for companies such as Dethmers Manufacturing Company in Boyden; Maurer Manufacturing in Spencer; Sudenga Industries in George; Den Hartog Industries in Hospers; Keith M. Merrick Co. in Sibley; and others.
Employment Discrimination
We represent several large employers who often need legal advice about their employment practices. We have significant experience representing advising both employers and employees in such matters as employment discrimination, affirmative action, sexual harassment, employee benefits, wrongful discharge, employment contracts, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act.
Employment Contract
We draft, negotiate, and review all types of contracts, whether commercial or private, including sales contracts, business agreements, leases, real estate contracts, and employment contracts.
Employment Litigation
Our firm represents and advises clients in lawsuits and appeals in such areas as creditor bankruptcy, probate, personal injury, employment claims, contract disputes, family law, and business or commercial matters.
Severance Agreement
We also give advice on agricultural law. Our law firm has represented farmers in northwest Iowa for over seventy years, helping them with legal matters such as leases, severance agreements, tile agreements, real estate contracts, farm corporations, manure agreements, and other matters. Partners, Mike Thole and Nathan Rockman, both grew up on the farm.
Clerical, Worthington Community College. Lori joined the firm in 1989. She works primarily with Mike Thole. Her duties include real estate matters, title opinions, estate planning, corporate work, and municipal work. Lori lives on a farm near Little Rock, Iowa with her husband, Erwin. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Premises Liability
The firm has a substantial litigation practice, which includes nationwide representation in product liability defense cases. In those cases, the firm’s attorneys have acted as lead defense counsel for a manufacturing company client in jurisdictions such as Texas, Connecticut, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, New Mexico, and other states. These cases generally involve vehicle accidents and often the amounts in dispute are into the millions of dollars. We also represent several insurance carriers in defending litigation on behalf of their insureds in cases involving automobile accidents, premises liability, liquor liability, product liability, and other issues. We also represent a railroad in property damage litigation involving its maritime bridges.
Construction Litigation
We assist cities and other government entities with their legal issues, including sale of property; passage of ordinances; bidding and construction issues; employment law issues; prosecution of misdemeanors; and other matters.
Land Use and Zoning
Our firm represents clients in all proceedings and transactions that deal with residential and commercial real property - land and the structures attached to it - including purchase and sale, construction, mortgages and foreclosures, leases, land use & zoning, title examinations, quiet title actions, closings, landlord/tenant disputes, and management.
The firm has also represented many injured persons in cases involving automobile accidents, water sports accidents, falls on premises, truck and trailer accidents, and other situations. We welcome inquiries into our experience and record in personal injury litigation.
We assist in all aspects of settling estates, whether that is being done through probate of a will or settlement of a trust. We have a paralegal devoted exclusively to the assistance of our estate administration clients. We have several attorneys with decades of experience in preparing the necessary legal documents and tax returns to settle an estate.
Wills
As we get older, many of us are faced with difficult and important decisions regarding our healthcare and our financial well-being. We can help you plan for both the present and the future through the use of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and health care directives.
Trusts
Agricultural Law, Construction Law. Criminal Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Business and Commercial Law, Contract Law, Debtor/Creditor Law, Employment Law, Family Law, Insurance Defense, Litigation and Appeals, Municipal Law, Personal Injury Law, Real Estate Law, and Wills & Trusts. For more information, click on the following...
Power of Attorney
We help clients plan for the distribution of property at death, using wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other legal documents.
Our firm represents owners, contractors, developers, and suppliers in all aspects of the construction process, including bidding and document preparation, contract negotiation and formation, contract performance, financing and warranty issues, mechanics liens, and dispute resolution. We have extensive experience regarding mechanic's liens and mechanic's lien foreclosures.