Kevin M. Reynolds

Kevin is an Of Counsel litigation attorney with the firm. When he first started practicing law in 1981, his mentor defended automotive products cases for a major U. S. manufacturer. Over the course of several trials in state and federal courts, he developed a reputation and expertise in products liability defense. He regularly defends products liability, wrongful death, personal injury and property damage cases. His personal experience in emotionally-charged courtroom settings gives him a unique perspective when counseling clients on civil litigation.

Kevin has tried a wide range of cases in both state and federal courts. Approximately 1/3^rd of his jury cases have been in federal court. His jury trials have involved a wide range of products including: automobiles; airplanes; pneumatic nailers; benzene; meat packing plant equipment; firearms; skidsteer loaders; toys; farm equipment (cultivators, cornpickers, planters and portable elevators); pharmaceutical drugs; automatic door systems; palletizers and other automated equipment.  Over his career, his jury trial experience has included claims such as: wrongful death, quadriplegia; burn injuries; amputation injuries; serious personal injury; fire and property damage; crashworthiness; business disputes; disputes over real estate; claims of overspray by aerial applicators; aircraft incidents and accidents; slip and fall; pharmacy malpractice; medical malpractice; and lender liability.

Kevin has written and lectured extensively on issues important to product defense clients, such as: product recalls; conducting evidentiary Daubert hearings in federal court; spoliation of evidence; defenses based on federal preemption; protective orders against the dissemination of internal, confidential and proprietary trade-secret type design information; and keeping proof of other accidents, claims or lawsuits out of evidence.

He also evaluated and litigated aviation cases including accidents, has represented FBOs (fixed base operators) and has defended numerous pilot enforcement actions by the FAA. He is an instrument-rated private pilot with over 1,700 flight hours since 1989. He has been qualified in complex, high performance aircraft. His experience in the cockpit gives him a distinct advantage when working on aviation-related matters.

Kevin has a national reputation in product liability litigation. In 2020, he was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a select group of attorneys with significant trial experience and results. In 2017 Kevin was elected by his peers to serve as President of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. He served as Chair of the 3,500 member Product Liability Committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI). He is also a Sustaining Member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC). PLAC is a very select group of attorneys and manufacturers devoted to the defense of product liability matters. 

In Chambers USA 2018, Kevin was described by a client as "very thorough, efficient and knows what he is doing."

Contact Kevin today or call us at 515-288-6041 for more information. 

Cases Presentations & Publications

Published Cases

• Hirchak v. W.W. Grainger, Inc., 980 F.3d 605 (8^th Cir. 2020)
• Mauer v. ICON Health and Fitness, Inc., 2020 WL1052521 (N. D. Iowa 3-4-2020)
• Banowetz v. L S Ray Farm Service, LLC, 2018 WL6380780 (S. D. Iowa 8-2-2018)
• Book v. Voma Tire Corp., 860 N.W.2d 576 (Iowa 2015)
• Martin v. Apex Tool Group LLC, 961 F. Supp.2d 954 (N.D. Iowa 2013)
• Johnson v. Des Moines Metro Wastewater Reclamation Authority, 814 N.W. 2d 240 (Iowa 2012)
• Katzenmeier v. Blackpowder Products, Inc., 628 F.3d 948 (8th Cir. 2010)
• Wallis v. Townsend Vision, Inc., 648 F. Supp.2d 1075 (C.D. IL 2009)
• Katzenmeier v. Blackpowder Products, Inc., 2008 WL 85866676 (S.D. Iowa 2008)
• Bush v. Townsend Vision, Inc., 2008 WL 2783212 (E.D. Wisc. 2008)
• Perez v. Townsend Engineering Co., 545 F. Supp2d 461 (M.D. Pa. 2008)
• Gregg v. Indian Motorcycle Corp., 2006 WL 2644937 (N.D. Iowa 2006)
• Zeigler v. Fisher-Price, Inc., 302 F. Supp.2d 999 (N.D. Iowa 2004)
• Richardson v. Walgreens, Inc., 680 N.W. 2d 379 (Iowa Ct. App. 2004)
• Zeigler v. Fisher-Price, Inc., 261 F. Supp.2d 1047 (N.D. Iowa 2003)
• Lowers v. United States, 663 N.W.2d 408 (Iowa 2003)
• Wright v. Brooke Group, 652 N.W.2d 159 (Iowa 2002)
• McClure v. Walgreen Co., 613 N.W.2d 225 (Iowa 2000)
• Lovick v. Wil-Rich Mfg. Co., 588 N.W.2d 688 (Iowa 1999)
• Schaffer by Schaffer v. A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc., 74 F.3d 722 (6th Cir. 1996)
• Patton v. TIC United Corp., 77 F.3d 1235 (10th Cir. 1996)
• Federal Land Bank v. Tiffany, 529 N.W.2d 294 (Iowa 1995)
• Bressler v. Graco Children’s Products, Inc., 43 F.3d 379 (8th Cir. 1994)
• Hillrichs v. Avco Corp., 478 N.W.2d 70 (Iowa 1991), appeal after remand, 514 N.W.2d 94 (Iowa 1994)
• Patton v. Hutchinson Wil-Rich Mfg. Co., 861 P.2d 1299 (Kan. 1993)
• Johnston Equipment Corp. v. Industrial Indemnity, 489 N.W.2d 13 (Iowa 1992)
• Fell v. Kewanee Farm Equip. Co., 457 N.W.2d 911 (Iowa 1990)
• Berg v. Des Moines General Hospital Co., 456 N.W.2d 173 (Iowa 1990)
• Jones v. Palmer Communications, 440 N.W.2d 884 (Iowa 1989)
• United States Jaycees v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 427 N.W.2d 450 (Iowa 1988)
• C. Mac Chambers Co. v. Iowa Tae Kwon Do Academy, Inc., 412 N.W.2d 593 (Iowa 1987)
• Automobile Underwriters Corp. v. Harrelson, 409 N.W.2d 688 (Iowa 1987)

Selected Publications, Presentations and Teaching Appointments:

• Author, "Iowa Daubert Review: How Rule 702 and Daubert Can Be the “Silver Bullet” to Win Your Next Case"  Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Winter 2021 (Vol. XXIII, No. 1, Page 1)
• Speaker, "Defense Techniques for Defending Against Damages" Iowa Defense Counsel Association Annual Meeting, September 2020
• Author (with Clark Butler), "Iowa Code § 613.18: Some Questions Answered and Some Answers Questioned" Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Winter 2019 (Vol. XXI, No. 4, Page 1)
• Speaker, Deposition Boot Camp, Iowa Defense Counsel Association, October 2019
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman), “Defense Techniques for Arguing Damages” Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Winter 2018 (Vol. XX, No. 4, Page 1)
• Co-author (with Zachary J. Hermsen), "Defense Techniques for Combating Plaintiff's Reptile Strategy" Iowa Defense Counsel Association Defense Update, Winter 2018.
• Author (with Jackson O'Brien), "Misnamed Corporate Entities and the "Relation-Back" Rule", For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, November 2017.
• Co-author (with Zachary J. Hermsen), "Proper Objections to Written Discovery" Iowa Defense Counsel Association Defense Update, Spring 2017.
• Author, "Misnamed Corporate Entities and Iowa's "Relation Back" Rule: A Potential Sword for Defendants," Iowa Defense Counsel Association Defense Update, Fall, 2016.
• Author (with Sarah James), "Book v. Voma Tire Corp: The Iowa Supreme Court Takes an Expansive View of Personal Jurisdiction in a Products Liability Case," Iowa Defense Counsel Association Defense Update Fall, 2015.
• Presenter, "Causation & Scope of Liability," Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Meeting, February, 2015.
• Author, “The Restatement (Third): Expanding Tort Liability in Iowa?”  Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, November 2014 (Vol. XVI, No. 4).
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman), “Iowa Products Liability Law” Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Winter 2014 (Vol. XVI, No. 1, Page 1).
• Author (with William C. Scales), “The U.S. Supreme Court Gives Renewed Vitality to the ‘No Personal Jurisdiction’ Defense,” Defense Update published by the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Winter 2012 (Vol. XIV, No. 4, Page 1).
• Author (with Thomas B. Read), The Restatement (Third), Duty, Breach Of Duty and “Scope Of Liability”, Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Summer 2012.
• Author (with William C. Scales), The Restatement (Third) of Torts, Liability for Physical and Emotional Harm: The “New” Duty and Causation Analysis, For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, November 2010.
• Author (with Robert L. Fanter and John H. Moorlach), “Witness Statements in Investigation, Deposition and Trial.” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, September 2008.
• Presenter, “Federal Aviation Regulations,” Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Seminar, September 2007.
• Author, “Case Note: Recent Eighth Circuit Case Helpful to Defendants on Discovery, Evidentiary and Daubert Issues,” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Summer/Fall 2007.
• Author (with Johannes H. Moorlach), “Standards for the Admissibility of Expert Witness Testimony in Iowa,” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Fall 2006
• Author (with Nicholas O. Cooper), “Some ‘Unique’ Defenses Applicable to Punitive Damage Claims in Iowa,” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Summer 2006.
• Author, “The ‘Reverse Crashworthiness’ Defense,” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Spring 2006.
• Author, “The ‘Duty’ to Teach Younger Trial Lawyers,” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Winter 2006.
• Author (with Robert L. Fanter), “The ‘State’ of the State-of-the-Art Defense in Iowa,’” Defense Update: The Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Winter 2006.
• Author (with R. William Hancock), “Res Ipsa Loquitur in Iowa: How to Keep the Latin from Becoming ‘All Greek,’” Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Fall 2005.
• Presenter, “Deposition Techniques,” Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division-Professional Development Committee, Nuts & Bolts Seminar, October 5, 2005.
• Presenter, “Iowa Products Liability: Some Questions Answered and Some Answers Questioned,” Iowa Defense Counsel Association Annual Meeting and Seminar, September 22, 2005.
• Author, “Failure to Warn: Statutory Changes in Iowa Law,” Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2005.
• Author, “Iowa ‘Tort Reform:’ The Breadth of the Iowa Statute of Repose,” Defense Update, Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Winter 2004.
• Author, “Some Suggested Changes in Iowa Law That Could Benefit Defendants in Product Cases,” Iowa Defense Counsel Association Newsletter, Summer 2004.
• Presenter, “The Restatement (Third) of Torts, Product Liability: Evolutionary or Revolutionary?”  Iowa Defense Counsel Association Annual Meeting and Seminar, September 26, 2003.
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman and Jonathan E. Kramer), “The New Restatement: Is the Third Time Truly a Charm?,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, April 2003.
• Presenter, “Practical Issues in Working With Experts in Product Liability Cases,” Iowa Defense Counsel Association Annual Meeting and Seminar, September 26, 2002.
• Presenter and Program Chair, “Product Liability,” The Defense Research Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 21-23, 2001.
• Presenter and Program Chair, “Product Liability,” The Defense Research Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 19-21, 2000.
• Co-author, “The ‘Ten Myths’ of Products Liability,” 27 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 551, 2000.
• Presenter, “Product Liability and Safety Seminar,” Construction Industry Manufacturer’s Association Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 9-10, 1999.
• Author (with Lori E. Iwan), “Amended Rule 407: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1998.
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman), “The Top Ten Misconceptions in Product Liability Law,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1997.
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman), “Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t: The Standards Dilemma in Products Litigation,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1996.
• Presenter, “Defending Against Post-Sale Failure to Warn Claims,” Product Liability Institute for Corporate Counsel, New York, New York, February 1996.
• Author (with Jason M. Casini), “Confronting the ‘Heeding Presumption’ in Failure to Warn Cases,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1995.
• Presenter, “Debunking Failure to Warn Claims,” Product Liability Institute for Corporate Counsel, Washington, D.C., March 1995.
• Author (with Richard J. Kirschman), “Preventing a ‘Second Bite at the Apple:’ Defending Against Enhanced Injury Claims,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1994.
• Author, “Defending Against An ‘Interlock’ Claim,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1993.
• Author, “The ‘Duty’ to Recall or Retrofit a Product,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1992.
• Author (with Lou Quinn), “A Post-Mortem Examination of the Jury,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1990.
• Author (with Robert L. Fanter), “Ingenuous Ingenuity in Defense of a Product,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1989.
• Author (with Robert L. Fanter), “The ‘Offensive Defense’ of a Product Liability Action,” For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute, October 1988.

Honors & Recognitions

• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Iowa Defense Counsel Association Meritorious Service Award (formerly Lifetime Service Award), 2022
• Defense Research Institute Exceptional Performance Citation 2017—2018
• Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a Leading Individual Lawyer in General Commercial Litigation (2011—2023)
• Selected by Best Lawyers in America as the Des Moines area's "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2022), and Insurance Law (2025)
• Selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America as a top-ranked attorney in Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Commercial Litigation, and Bet-the-Company Litigation (2015—2025)
• Selected for inclusion in The International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defence Lawyers (2013—2015), and The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2013
• Selected for inclusion in the Great Plains Super Lawyers in the area of Personal Injury Defense: Products (2007, 2009—2024)
• Selected for inclusion in Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star – Iowa in practice areas including Appellate, Insurance, and Product Liability (2013—2014)
• Iowa Defense Counsel Association Edward F. Seitzinger Award, 2012