Wilford H. Stone

Before joining Lynch Dallas, P.C., Mr. Stone was an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., and participated in dozens of appellate arguments in the federal courts. 

Now a senior trial attorney with more than four decades of courtroom experience, Bill has successfully tried hundreds of cases before courts, juries, and arbitrators. He has also won dozens of cases on summary judgment.  Bill represents clients—both as lead counsel and local counsel -- in a wide array of complex and class action litigation, including avionics, energy, health care, insurance and financial products, and manufacturing. He most recently served as local counsel for Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the $174 million prescription opioid settlement/consent judgment with the State of Iowa.

Bill represents management in collective bargaining as chief negotiator for a variety of private employers and cities.  In addition, he counsels unionized employers on all aspects of union workforce management.

Bill also leads a team that spends a significant amount of time representing police officers, deputy sheriffs, jailers, K-9 officers and their dogs, and county prosecutors and police and sheriff's departments across Iowa on alleged excessive use of force, alleged misuse of electronic control devices and chemical and pepper sprays, officer involved shootings, alleged deliberate indifference claims, and alleged unlawful search and seizure cases. 

Finally, Mr. Stone dedicates a significant amount of time to delivering pro bono labor and employment legal services.

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, Master of Labor Law (1987)
  • The University of Iowa (J.D., 1984) with distinction
  • Cornell University, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations (M.I.L.R., 1980)
  • The College of Wooster (B.A., 1978)

Professional Affiliations

Active or formerly active in the following organizations:

  • Association of Corporate Counsel, Iowa Chapter
  • ARC of East Central Iowa (Professional of the Year, 2005)
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Linn County
  • Cedar Valley Humane Society
  • Iowa Legal Aid (2010 Award for Pro Bono Service)
  • Iowa Association of School Boards
  • Iowa City/County Management Association
  • Iowa League of Cities
  • Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association
  • Iowa Municipal Management Institute
  • National Czech/Slovak Museum and Library

Additional Biographical Information

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law, 2022-2023, Management and Litigation
  • Iowa Super Lawyers, 2024-2025, Employment and Labor Law
  • Great Plains Super Lawyers, 2024-2025, Employment and Labor Law
  • Arbitrator, Commercial and Employment panel, American Arbitration Association
  • Arbitrator, Iowa Public Employment Relations Board (1997-2007)
  • Governor’s Volunteer Award, 2000 (Iowa Civil Rights Commission)
  • Staff Counsel to the NLRB/Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch, in Washington, D.C., from 1984-1987

Presentations and Publications

  • Jail legal update and liability risks, 2024.
  • What managers can do to mitigate litigation risks, 2024.
  • Collective bargaining workshop for employers, 2024.
  • Navigating independent contractor compliance, 2024.
  • Defending law enforcement on claims of excessive force, 2023, Iowa League of Cities.
  • 2023 Labor and Employment Law Updates workshop.
  • Contributor, Human Resources Administration and Labor Relations update, Iowa Municipal Policy Leaders' Handbook, 2023.

Selected Cases and Experience

  • Kelly v Neeld, Mercer and City of Iowa City, Iowa et al. (S.D. of Iowa 2024)(successful summary judgment for City of Iowa City police officers on stop and frisk and alleged excessive force)
  • Trandel v City of Keokuk Iowa and various officers(ICRC 2024)(obtained ICRC administrative closure of discrimination charge against officers following homeowner’s arrest).
  • Larson v Buchanan County Jail, Iowa, et. al., (N.D. Iowa 2024)(successful summary judgment for County and Sheriff on alleged deliberate indifference to plaintiff’s medical conditions.
  • White v Harkrider, City of Iowa City, Johnson County et al , 990 N.W. 2d 647(Iowa 2023)(successfully defended County and deputy sheriff on interlocutory appeal of dismissal of state constitutional tort claims arising out of warrantless arrest).
  • Harris v. Bennett et al (City of Bettendorf and Bettendorf Community School District) (S.D. of Iowa 2022) (successful summary judgment for city and school resource officer on alleged excessive force in the school).
  • Overton v Wheeler et al. (Muscatine County correctional officers) (S.D. of Iowa 2022) (successful summary judgment for correctional officers on prisoner failure to exhaust jail grievance policy administrative remedies).
  • Hester v City of Bettendorf, Iowa, and various police officers (Scott County 2021) (successful summary judgment for city and police officers on claims of alleged harassment, and alleged unlawful search and seizure involving K-9 sniff of vehicle where incident was captured on officer's vehicle mounted dash camera).
  • Cooks v Naylor et al. (Muscatine County, Iowa) (S.D. of Iowa 2020), affirmed (8th Cir. 2021) (successfully defended Muscatine County jailers and deputy sheriffs on alleged excessive force claims).
  • McElree v City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, et al., 372 F. Supp 3d 770 (N.D. of Iowa 2019), affirmed 983 F.3d 1009 (8th Cir. 2020) (successful summary judgment for Cedar Rapids police officer on alleged excessive force in 2015 officer involved shooting).
  • Center v City of Marion, Iowa and various police officers (N.D. of Iowa 2019) (successful motion to dismiss complaint on behalf of Police Department and police officers regarding allegation of excessive force during traffic stop).
  • Heyland v Des Moines County, Iowa, 947 N.W. 2d 664 (Iowa Ct. App. 2020) (successfully defended Des Moines County on defamation, violation of the whistleblower statute, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims).
  • Jerime Mitchell v City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Officer Lucas Jones 926 N.W. 2d 222 (Iowa 2019)(represented police officer on appeal of discovery ruling denying protective order for police investigative reports in 2016 officer involved shooting).  
  • Adem v Johnson County Attorney Office (S.D. of Iowa 2019), affirmed (8th Cir. 2019) (successful motion to dismiss complaint on defendant's behalf for statute of limitations and failure to sue a cognizable defendant).
  • Iole v. City of Marshalltown, Iowa (S.D. of Iowa 2018) (successfully defended city on lawsuit over tactical operation involving tear gas and emergency response).
  • Life Investors Insurance Co. of America v. Federal City Region, et. al., 878 F.3d 648 (8th Cir. 2018) (summary judgment for insurance company affirmed on appeal involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and conversion).  
  • Basquin v. City of Fairbank, Iowa, 847 N.W. 2d 236 (Iowa Ct. App. 2014) (successfully defended City on snowmobile injury caused by pedestrian footbridge tethering cable).
  • Life Investors Ins. v. Estate of Corrado, 838 N.W.2d 640 (Iowa 2013) (establishing ratification of a contract through a party's actions or inactions).
  • Kallail v. Alliant Energy Corporate Services, 691 F.3d 925 (8th Cir. 2012) (successfully defended employer on disability claim involving shift rotation and accommodation request)
  • Browder v. Aetna, Inc., 378 F. App. 591 (8th Cir. 2010) (successfully defended health insurance company on bad faith claim)
  • Western Reserve Life (WRL)/AEGON USA Inc. vs. Bratton Financial Services International 464 F.Supp.2d 814 (N.D. of Iowa 2006) (successful declaratory judgment on behalf of insurance company)
  • Attorney's Process & Investigation Services Inc. v. Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, 401 F.Supp.2d. 952 (N.D. of Iowa 2005); affirmed in relevant part, 609 F.3d 927 (8th Cir. 2010) (local counsel in successful preliminary injunction defense)
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