Ian J. Russell, Grace E. Mangieri, and Jenny L. Juehring successfully represented a corporation in the appeal of a decision that applied a liquidated damages clause in a contract to reduce the plaintiff’s claimed damages from $6,635,617.62 to $114,750.

On October 1, 2025, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision reducing the plaintiff’s claimed damages pursuant to a liquidated damages clause in the parties’ contract. Prior to Lane & Waterman being retained by the defendants, the district court awarded the plaintiff $6,635,617.62 in damages. After the defendant retained Lane & Waterman, the damages award was reversed on appeal due to the district court’s failure to consider the liquidated damages provision in the parties’ contract. On remand, the district court found that the liquidated damages provision, which limited damages to 15% of the contract price, applied and reduced the award accordingly to $114,750. On appeal again, the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision reducing the plaintiff’s damages from $6,635,617.62 to $114,750 pursuant to the liquidated damages clause.

A copy of the Iowa Court of Appeals opinion can be found here.

Ian J. Russell joined Lane & Waterman in 2005. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, and personal injury. He also counsels clients and provides analysis of issues involving media and first amendment law, election issues, and aviation matters. Ian also served as the 137th Iowa State Bar Association President and he previously served as a past President of the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. In 2025, he was elected to serve as Managing Partner of Lane & Waterman.

Grace Mangieri joined Lane & Waterman in 2019. Her civil litigation practice primarily consists of professional malpractice, products liability, personal injury, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Lane & Waterman, Grace practiced law in Chicago with a focus in toxic torts, environmental proceedings, white collar investigations, and regulatory compliance.

Jenny Juehring joined Lane & Waterman in 2020. Her practice focuses primarily on litigation with focus areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, medical malpractice, and appellate practice.