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8400 Hickman Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50325-4320
Telephone: (515) 278-9900
• Telecopy: (515) 278-9977
E-Mail: jpm@8400law.com

 

Attorneys

Mark J. Wiedenfeld
E-Mail: mjw@8400law.com

Mark J. Wiedenfeld was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1950. Mark is admitted to the Iowa bar, the United States District Court for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

After attending Carroll Kuemper and Fort Dodge St. Edmond High Schools, Mark received his undergraduate education at the University of South Dakota (B.S., major in chemistry, minors in biology and mathematics). He worked as a chemist, supervising the quality control laboratory for a large feed company, before attending the University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., with high distinction, 1978). While in law school, Mark was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

Since graduating from law school in 1978, Mark has practiced in Des Moines. He specializes in civil personal injury litigation. His practice consists primarily of insurance defense for a variety of clients, but he also represents a select number of plaintiffs who have been injured or wronged. Mark's practice is heavily involved in negotiating settlements, preparation of cases for trial, jury trials and appeals. Among the types of cases he has handled and tried to a jury, both for defendants and plaintiffs, are:

  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • Car - pedestrian accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Employment terminations
  • Employment discrimination
  • Dramshop liability claims against bars and taverns
  • Product liability
  • Assaults
  • Slip and fall
  • Insurance coverage disputes

Mark was joined by Joseph P. McLaughlin in 1996, and the firm is now Wiedenfeld & McLaughlin, L.L.P.

Mark is also registered as a mediator and arbitrator with the Iowa District Court Mediation Program. Mark has provided mediation and arbitration services since 1997.

Mark is a member of the Polk County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Iowa State Bar Association. He served five years on the Polk County Bar Associations Grievance Committee, three years as chairman, and four years on the association's Board of Directors. Mark is also a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, where he was a member of the Board of Governors from 1996 to 2000. Mark is also a member of the American Bar Association (member, Litigation Section), the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Defense Research Institute, Inc., and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association.


Joseph P. McLaughlin
E-Mail: jpm@8400law.com

Joseph P. McLaughlin was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1956. He is a member of the Missouri and Iowa bars and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. 

Joseph was raised in West Des Moines, where he graduated from Dowling High School. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Northern Iowa (B.A., major in marketing and minor in economics). He received his legal education at Drake University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1985). While in law school, Joseph was Order of the Coif. He was also Editor-in-Chief of the Drake Law Review from 1984 to 1985. He is the author of Note, "The Inconsistencies and Confusion of Successor Corporation Liability in Product Liability Claims--Should Iowa Adopt a New Approach?" 34 Drake Law Review 161, 1984-85. 

After graduating from law school, Joseph worked from 1985 to 1987 as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Floyd R. Gibson, United States Senior Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. From 1987 to 1992 he was with the Kansas City law firm of Hillix, Brewer, Hoffhaus Whittaker, & Wright, where he was involved in commercial litigation, primarily representing employers in employment related matters. From 1992 to 1996, Joseph was employed as Counsel with Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company in Des Moines, Iowa, where he negotiated and documented multi million dollar commercial real estate loan transactions. In 1996, he joined Mark Wiedenfeld of the Wiedenfeld Law Office and the firm is now Wiedenfeld & McLaughlin, L.L.P.

Joseph's practice has expanded since joining Mark Wiedenfeld and he has handled various cases in both state and federal court, including:

  • Automobile accidents
  • Pedestrian injuries
  • Dog bites/attacks
  • Employment terminations
  • Employment discrimination
  • Dramshop liability claims against bars and taverns
  • Product liability claims
  • Assaults
  • Slips and falls
  • Insurance coverage disputes
  • Construction Defect/Fraud
  • Probate

 

Joseph is a member of the Polk County and Iowa State Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the C. Edwin Moore American Inn of Court. Joseph is a former member of the West Des Moines Chief of Police Advisory Committee.


James W. Russell
E-Mail: james@8400law.com

James W. Russell graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law with high distinction receiving his J.D. in May 2010. He was admitted in 2010 to practice law in Iowa as well as in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. He is also a member of the Iowa and Polk County bar associations.

 

James was born and raised in Ames, Iowa, and n 2003, he graduated from Ames High School. James obtained his undergraduate education from the University of Iowa. While an undergraduate, James was active in various student organizations. For instance, in the Fall of 2004, James represented the University of Iowa at the MACURH Regional Conference and for the 2004-2005 school year, James served as president of the honors residence hall association. While an undergraduate, James began his career in the legal profession when he clerked for a medium size firm in Des Moines in the Summer of 2006.  In May 2007, James received his B.A. from the University of Iowa with high distinction, graduating with a major in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy.

 

James began law school in the Fall of 2007. While seeking his J.D., James was active in various student organizations and participated in trial advocacy and appellate advocacy programs. James also remained active in the community. For instance, James served as a judge of high school debate for both Ankeny and Iowa City West High School. In addition, while in law school, James donated bone marrow through the National Marrow Donor Program. As a result of this wonderful experience, James advocates everyone to get tested to see if they might “be the match.”

 

During the Summers of 2008 and 2009, James was a summer associate for law firms in Des Moines. As a summer associate, James experienced numerous areas of the legal practice, but his focus was in the area of civil litigation and in particular products liability and insurance defense.

 

After graduation from law school, James joined Wiedenfeld & McLaughlin, L.L.P., as an associate in August 2010. Since arriving at the firm, James has worked on a variety of cases including:

 

  • Automobile accidents
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims
  • Dramshop liability claims against bars and taverns
  • Insurance coverage disputes
  • Slip and falls
  • Premise liability
  • Assaults
  • Battery
  • Real estate contracts
  • Probate (wills)
  • Civil liberty litigation


A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field or law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Memberships and office in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific technical and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice does not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any other lawyer being considered. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

 

 

 

 

 

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