DEMAND FOR SETTLEMENT - PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE

STATE OF IOWA

[FIRM NAME]
Attorneys at Law
[Street Address]
[City, Iowa ZIP]
Telephone: [Phone]
Facsimile: [Fax]
Email: [Email]
Licensed in the State of Iowa

DATE: [Date]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND FIRST-CLASS MAIL

[Professional's Name or Firm]
[Professional Liability Insurance Carrier]
[Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]

RE: PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE CLAIM - SETTLEMENT DEMAND
Claimant: [Client Full Name]
Date(s) of Negligent Services: [Date or Date Range]
Professional(s): [Professional Name(s)]
Type of Professional: [Attorney/CPA/Architect/Engineer]
Claim Number: [If assigned]

Dear [Recipient Name]:

This firm represents [Client Name] in connection with the professional malpractice committed by [Professional Name] during the provision of [legal/accounting/architectural/engineering] services. This letter constitutes formal notice of our client's claim and our demand for settlement.

I. IOWA-SPECIFIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Governing Law

This claim is governed by Iowa common law principles of professional negligence and the Iowa Code.

B. Statute of Limitations

General Negligence: Under Iowa Code Section 614.1(4), actions founded on unwritten contracts or injuries to person or property must be brought within five (5) years.

Legal Malpractice: An action for legal malpractice must generally be brought within two (2) years from the date the client knew or should have known of the injury. Ruden v. Jenk, 543 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1996).

Discovery Rule: Iowa applies the discovery rule. The limitations period begins when the plaintiff knew or should have discovered the injury. Ruden v. Jenk, 543 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1996).

Design Professionals - Statute of Repose: Under Iowa Code Section 614.1(11), claims against architects, engineers, and contractors for defective design or construction must be brought within 15 years after substantial completion.

Relevant Dates in This Matter:
- Date(s) of negligent services: [Date(s)]
- Date of discovery: [Date]
- Limitations period expires: [Date]

C. Comparative Fault

Iowa follows modified comparative fault (50% bar) under Iowa Code Section 668.3. A plaintiff is barred from recovery if the plaintiff's fault is greater than or equal to 50% of the total fault. If less than 50%, recovery is reduced proportionally.

Our investigation establishes that our client bears no fault for the damages caused by the defendant's professional negligence.

D. Standard of Care Under Iowa Law

Under Iowa law, a professional must exercise such care, skill, and diligence as would be exercised by a reasonably competent and skillful practitioner in the same field in similar circumstances.

Attorney Standard: An attorney must exercise the skill, care, and judgment normally possessed and exercised by members of the legal profession in similar circumstances. Ruden v. Jenk, 543 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1996).

Accountant Standard: An accountant must exercise the degree of skill and care that a reasonably competent CPA would exercise under similar circumstances.

Architect/Engineer Standard: Design professionals must exercise the degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised by members of their profession. City of Maquoketa v. Willey, 458 N.W.2d 859 (Iowa 1990).

E. Certificate of Merit - Legal Malpractice

Under Iowa Code Section 619.19, a petition in a legal malpractice action must be accompanied by a certificate of merit signed by an attorney who:
1. Has practiced law in Iowa for at least 5 years; and
2. Certifies that the attorney has reviewed the facts and believes there is a reasonable probability the claim will be successful.

F. Expert Witness Requirements

Expert testimony is required to establish the standard of care and breach in professional malpractice cases unless the negligence is obvious to a layperson. Ruden v. Jenk, 543 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1996).

Certification: We have retained a qualified expert who has reviewed the relevant materials and concluded that the applicable standard of care was breached.

G. Damage Caps

Iowa does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in professional malpractice cases.

II. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE - LITIGATION HOLD

YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE relating to the professional services provided to [Client Name], including but not limited to:

• Complete client files (paper and electronic)
• All drafts and working papers
• Correspondence (including emails, texts, and messages)
• Engagement letters and fee agreements
• Time records and billing statements
• Internal memoranda and notes
• Professional liability insurance policies
• [For Attorneys:] Case files, pleadings, research memoranda
• [For Accountants:] Work papers, tax returns, financial statements
• [For Architects/Engineers:] Drawings, specifications, calculations, project files

Modification, destruction, or concealment of any records will result in claims for spoliation and sanctions.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Professional Engagement

[Client Name] engaged [Professional Name/Firm] on or about [Date] to provide [type of professional services]:

Scope of Engagement:
- [Describe the scope of professional services]
- [Objectives or goals of the engagement]

Professional Relationship:
- Engagement date: [Date]
- [If applicable:] Termination date: [Date]
- Fee arrangement: [Hourly/Fixed/Contingency]

B. Chronology of Events

[Date]: [Describe what occurred]

[Date]: [Describe what occurred]

C. The Professional Error(s)

[Describe specifically what the professional(s) did wrong]

D. Discovery of Malpractice

Our client [did not discover / could not have reasonably discovered] the malpractice until [Date], when [describe discovery circumstances].

IV. ELEMENTS OF PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE

Under Iowa law, a plaintiff must establish:

A. Duty (Professional Relationship)

[Professional Name] owed a duty of care to [Client Name] arising from the professional relationship established on [Date].

B. Breach of the Standard of Care

Applicable Standard: [Professional Name] was required to exercise such care, skill, and diligence as would be exercised by a reasonably competent practitioner in the same field.

Based on our expert's analysis, the applicable standard of care required [Professional] to:

1. [Standard 1]
2. [Standard 2]
3. [Standard 3]

Breaches:

Breach 1: [Detailed description]

Breach 2: [Detailed description]

C. Causation

Proximate Cause: But for [Professional Name]'s breach of the standard of care, [Client Name] would not have suffered the damages described herein.

Legal Malpractice - Case Within a Case: [If applicable:] Had [Attorney Name] properly handled the matter, our client would have [obtained a favorable judgment / avoided liability]. Ruden v. Jenk, 543 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1996).

D. Damages

As a direct and proximate result of the malpractice, [Client Name] has suffered the damages set forth below.

V. EXPERT OPINION

We have retained [Expert Name], a [licensed attorney/CPA/architect/licensed professional engineer] with [number] years of experience. [Expert Name] has concluded that:

1. [Professional Name] breached the applicable standard of care;
2. These breaches were a proximate cause of [Client Name]'s damages; and
3. Had appropriate professional services been rendered, [describe avoided outcome].

VI. DAMAGES

A. Direct Financial Losses

B. Consequential Damages

C. Summary of Damages

VII. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based upon the clear breach of the standard of care and the substantial damages incurred, we hereby demand:

$[DEMAND AMOUNT]

This demand will remain open for thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, expiring at 5:00 p.m. Central Time on [Expiration Date].

VIII. INSURANCE INFORMATION REQUEST

Please provide within ten (10) days:

1. All professional liability insurance policies applicable to this claim
2. Policy limits for each applicable policy
3. Any deductible or self-insured retention amounts

IX. DOCUMENTATION ENCLOSED

• Engagement letter and correspondence
• Documents evidencing the professional's work
• Documents evidencing damages
• Expert curriculum vitae

X. CONCLUSION

This case presents clear professional malpractice that caused significant financial harm to our client. We are prepared to litigate this matter through trial in the Iowa District Court if necessary.

Please respond by the deadline stated above.

Respectfully submitted,

[FIRM NAME]

By: _________________________________
[Attorney Name]
Iowa Supreme Court No. [Number]
Attorney for [Client Name]

ENCLOSURES: As noted above

cc: [Client Name]
File

IOWA PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE PRACTICE NOTES

• Modified Comparative Fault (50% Bar): Plaintiff barred if fault equals or exceeds 50%.

• Certificate of Merit for Legal Malpractice: Iowa Code Section 619.19 requires a certificate from an Iowa attorney with 5+ years experience.

• Discovery Rule Applies: Limitations period runs from discovery of the injury.

• Design Professional Repose: 15-year statute of repose under Iowa Code Section 614.1(11).

• Expert Testimony Required: Essential for establishing standard of care.

• Case Within a Case: In legal malpractice, must prove the underlying case would have been successful.

• Venue: Proper in county where defendant resides or where cause of action arose.

This template is specific to Iowa law. Always verify current law and consult with qualified Iowa counsel.