RANDY SHANKS

Since graduating from Creighton Law School in 1984, Randy Shanks has focused his law practice on representing the rights of people who have been injured or harmed by the wrongdoings of others, corporations and insurance companies.   

Mr. Shanks has represented individuals in all forms of civil matters from personal injury/wrongful death litigation to insurance bad faith cases.  The civil jury system is an “adversarial proceeding” where the outcome of the case is often times determined by the advocacy skill of each lawyer.  The following are some of the substantial verdicts that juries have awarded to Mr. Shanks’ clients:

• $15 million dollar verdict against IBP in favor of Kevin Wilson based upon IBP’s improper conduct in handling Mr. Wilson’s worker’s compensation case.  See Wilson v. IBP & Diane Arndt, Pottawattamie County Law No. 6400, decided December 2, 1994.
• $1.6 million dollar verdict against the City of Council Bluffs and its police officer in favor of Richard Bryant for personal injuries sustained by Mr. Bryant in a motor vehicle collision.  See Bryant v. City of Council Bluffs & Patricia Kay Higgins, Pottawattamie County Law No. 73514, decided December 4, 1998.
• $1.1 million dollar verdict against Super 8 Motel in favor of Duane Bender for personal injuries sustained by Mr. Bender in a fall on the motel’s premises.  See Bender v. Wise Motels, Inc. d/b/a Super 8 Motel, Pottawattamie County Law No. 080675, decided January 27, 2003.
• $400,000.00 verdict in favor of union workers against the owner of Titan Tire Company in Des Moines, Iowa based upon the owner’s defamatory remarks about the Plaintiffs.  See Brummett, et al v. Maurice Taylor, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa No. 4:02-cv-10575, decided December 12, 2007.

Mr. Shanks is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.  Fellowship is extended only by invitation to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.  Membership in the College is limited to no more than 1% of the total lawyer population of any state or province.
The following is a listing of Mr. Shanks’ biographical information:

Education

• 1977 Graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School
• National Honor Society
• President of Student Council
• 1979 Associates of Art Degree from South Western Community College
• 1981 Bachelor of Arts Degree from Midland College
• Blue Key National Honor Society
• President of Men’s Dorm
• 1984 Juris Doctor Degree from Creighton Law School
• President of Moot Court
• Trial Advocacy Award

Professional Activities, Associations & Admissions

• AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
• American College of Trial Lawyers
• Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Board of Governors
• Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Nebraska Bar Association
• Iowa Bar Association
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for Nebraska
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
• Member of Iowa Jury Instructions Committee

Other Activities & Interests

• YMCA Board of Directors
• March of Dimes Board
• Leadership Council Bluffs
• Optimist Member
• Lewis Central Booster Club
• Iowa High School Mock Trial Coach

FELA Accidents: Worker Injuries

FELA In Detail

Safety: Vehicle Crossings

Safety: Pedestrian Crossings

Extra-Hazardous Crossings