Chris Stewart, an Associate at Parrish Kruidenier, maintains a general law practice with concentrations in Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Employment & Labor Law, Business Law, Administrative Law and Consumer Fraud.
Chris grew up in Runnells, Iowa and graduated from Southeast Polk High School. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in History, Political Science and Geography. While at UNI, he was active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity serving as chapter President. Chris graduated from Drake University Law School with a certificate in Litigation and Dispute Resolution. During his time at Drake Law, he participated in the Criminal Defense Clinic and was awarded the M. Gene Blackburn award, an award given to the best brief submitted during the Drake University Law School Supreme Court Day Competition.
Chris lives in Des Moines with his wife, Sarah, and their dog, Howie. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, movies, traveling and volunteering for the Blue Ribbon Foundation and Drake Relays.
Chris has been nationally recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 criminal defense attorneys in the State of Iowa. He has also been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for his work in the employment and labor law sector.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Personal injury
• Dallas County client who was assaulted and suffered a broken nose requiring facial surgery. Judgement was entered in favor of the client for over $87,000.00 in damages. A second defendant settled his claims for $15,000.00 for a total award for the client of $102,000.00.
• A Johnson County jury awarded over $66,000.00 in damages for a broken wrist after a trip and fall at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Criminal Defense
• A Wapello County man was charged with two Class C felonies. After review of discovery and the taking of depositions, Chris obtained a dismissal of all charges.
• A Story County man was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana after he was alleged to have over a pound of the drug in his possession. He was also charged with failure to affix a drug tax stamp, operating while intoxicated and public intoxication. After a lengthy discovery period, the client pled guilty to public intoxication and the remaining charges were dismissed.
• Over the past several years, Chris has created an extensive practice of representing clients with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges. This has led to multiple successful motions to suppress and complete dismissals of charges.
Employment & Labor Law
• Chris represents individuals throughout Iowa who have been discriminated against based upon their protected characteristics. He has obtained favorable outcomes at every level with many settlements exceeding $100,000.00.
• Chris represented a long time employee of the Des Moines Public School District that was terminated and subjected to age discrimination. After litigation through the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and District Court, the matter was settled for $350,000.00.
• Wilkerson-Moore & State of Iowa (Department of Human Services), 18-PERB-100788. The State of Iowa terminated a 20-year state employee without just cause. Chris represented the employee in front of the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and the termination was overturned. The State appealed the matter to the District Court. The District Court upheld PERB’s determination, awarding the employee over $100,000.00 in back pay.
• Wise & State of Iowa (Department of Human Services), 16-PERB-100005. Chris was co-counsel and sought out and obtained the reversal of the State’s decision to terminate an employee with a back pay award that exceeded $200,000.00.
• Chris has successfully negotiated multiple collective bargaining agreements on behalf of labor organizations throughout the state.
Business Law
• Chris represented a Central Iowa business who was being sued for damages that occurred on the business’ premises. At the trial court level, the judgment was entered in favor of the Plaintiff. Chris and his client, the Defendant, appealed the judgment based on the fact that the Plaintiff was negligent in their actions and directly contributed to the injuries they were claiming. On appeal, the court agreed and dismissed the Plaintiff’s case.
Administrative Law
• Chris has successfully represented professionally licensed individuals who have faced revocation and suspensions of their professional licenses. Such clients have been licensed with the Iowa Nursing Board, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Iowa Board of Social Work and Iowa Board of Dentistry.
University Administrative Hearings
• A Drake University student with three prior student conduct code violations was facing expulsion for his alleged fourth violation. The student hired Chris and was able to remain at the University and graduate on time.
• Chris has also represented students and student organizations who have faced student conduct code violations, which have included suspensions and expulsions, at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
Consumer Fraud
• Chris has represented many Plaintiffs in consumer fraud actions against landlords, mechanics, homebuilders and sellers of homes for their negligent actions and fraudulent concealment.
Appellate Court Representative Cases
• Simon Seeding & Sod, Inc. v. Dubuque Human Rights Commission, 895 N.W.2d 446 (Iowa 2017). Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the numerosity requirement of a local civil rights ordinance and found sufficient evidence to support a finding that our client had been subjected to severe and pervasive harassment based upon his race.
• UE Local 893/IUP v. State of Iowa, 928 N.W.2d 51 (Iowa 2019). Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the District Court’s findings that the employee organization and the State of Iowa had formed an enforceable collective bargaining agreement.
