Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese P.C.

Des Moines roots and stated experience

The office is based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese P.C. says the firm began in Des Moines and has served the city and the Midwest for over 50 years. The website gives no specific founding year.

The firm also reports more than 150 years of combined legal experience among its attorneys. That figure concerns the team as a whole. The attorney page identifies 13 lawyers and lists a title for each person.

Focus and practice areas

The website names nine practice categories. They are family law, personal injury, bankruptcy, business law, workers' compensation, civil litigation, class action lawsuits, wills, trusts and estates, and appeals. This mix covers disputes, financial matters, business needs, and personal planning.

The family law section identifies divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, paternity, and prenuptial agreements. The personal injury section identifies car accidents, slip and fall claims, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. These specific examples help define two of the broader categories.

The firm says its work began with helping families and later grew into related areas of law. In my opinion, the named services give potential clients a useful first view of the matters handled by the attorneys. A person with overlapping legal issues can also see which subjects appear within the same firm.

Civil litigation and class action work

Civil litigation and class actions appear as separate practice areas on the website. Civil litigation can involve a dispute between individuals, businesses, or other parties. A class action involves one or more named plaintiffs who seek to pursue claims for a defined group.

How an ordinary civil case proceeds

A civil lawsuit usually begins when a plaintiff files a complaint and serves it on the defendant. The defendant answers the allegations or raises a permitted challenge. The court sets deadlines for later stages of the case.

Discovery often follows the first pleadings. Parties may exchange documents, submit written questions, take depositions, and request admissions. Attorneys may also file motions about evidence, legal issues, or the claims that can proceed.

Many courts schedule conferences that address timing and settlement. If the parties do not resolve the dispute, a judge or jury may hear the evidence at trial. The available route depends on the claims, the court, and the governing law.

How class actions differ

A proposed class action requires the court to consider whether the case can proceed for a group. The named plaintiffs ask the court to certify a class under the applicable procedural rules. The court examines matters such as common legal questions, the proposed class definition, and the ability of the named parties to represent the group.

Certification can shape the course of the lawsuit. A certified case may require notice to class members and a procedure for participation or exclusion. Courts also review proposed class settlements before granting approval.

Class litigation often involves a large set of records and claims with shared factual issues. The parties may dispute whether those shared issues support group treatment. The judge decides certification under the rules that apply in the selected court.

Family, injury and financial matters

Family law receives the most detailed list of services on the firm's website. Divorce cases may involve property division, support, and parenting arrangements. Paternity proceedings can determine legal parentage and affect custody or support obligations.

Common steps in family cases

A family case often begins with a petition and formal notice to the other party. A court may address temporary custody, support, or use of property while the case remains pending. The parties may exchange financial records and information about the children.

Mediation can give the parties a setting to discuss agreed terms. When contested issues remain, the court receives evidence and enters orders. Prenuptial agreements involve a different process because the parties prepare the document before marriage and disclose information relevant to its terms.

Personal injury and workers' compensation

Personal injury claims usually require evidence about fault, medical treatment, and loss. Records may include medical reports, photographs, witness accounts, wage documents, and insurance correspondence. Wrongful death claims can also involve estate representatives and statutory rules about who may recover.

Workers' compensation follows a distinct system for job related injuries. A claim may address medical care, work restrictions, lost earnings, or disability benefits. Employers, insurers, medical providers, and administrative decision makers may take part in that process.

Bankruptcy, business and estate planning

Bankruptcy cases require financial disclosures about income, property, debts, and recent transactions. A debtor files schedules and other documents with the court. A trustee reviews the filing, and creditors receive the notices required by the selected chapter.

Business law can concern formation documents, contracts, ownership terms, transactions, and disputes. Corporate records and written agreements often define the parties' duties. Civil litigation may become relevant when owners, vendors, customers, or other parties contest those duties.

Wills, trusts and estate planning focus on documents that direct the management or transfer of property. A will can name beneficiaries and nominate a personal representative. A trust can place duties on a trustee under its written terms, while other planning documents can address decision making during incapacity.

How the attorney team is built

The attorney page states that the firm has 13 attorneys. Most of the published titles are Shareholder. Steven H. Shindler holds the titles of Shareholder and President.

The site identifies Frederick B. Anderson, Katie L. Gallo, J. Barton Goplerud, Ryan Gravett, James R. Hinchliff, Tara L. Hofbauer, Andrew B. Howie, Brian Marty, and Peter J. Rolwes as shareholders. Brett E. Battani and Trevor A. Schweinefus carry the title of Associate. The published roster uses names and firm titles.

Appeals as a separate practice area

The firm lists appeals apart from civil litigation. An appeal asks a higher court to review claimed legal errors in a lower court or tribunal. Appellate work centers on the existing record, preserved issues, written briefs, and the governing standard of review.

The parties may present oral argument when the appellate court schedules it. Appellate judges usually review legal arguments without hearing the trial evidence again. The court then issues a written decision based on the record and the arguments presented.