Bradley & Riley PC

Joseph W. Younker

Tel/Direct: 319-358-5569
Location: Iowa City, IA

Background

Mr. Younker focuses his litigation practice on commercial, employment, probate and trust, environmental, and real estate disputes, representing clients before various boards, commissions, agencies, and courts. Additionally, he has substantial experience providing counsel to a wide variety of employers on issues arising outside of litigation, and provides frequent trainings on a variety of employment-related topics. He advises clients on environmental due diligence and liability allocation in connection with corporate and real estate transactions, and assists clients in the process of obtaining environmental permits.

Joe is the Chair of the Firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Assistant: Sherwin
Assistant's Phone: 319-358-5565
Assistant's Email: Slacsa@bradleyriley.com

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree, magna cum laude, Creighton University, 2001
  • Juris Doctorate, University of Iowa College of Law, 2005
  • Editorial Board of Journal of Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems
  • Research Assistant for Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center and Professor Sandy Boyd

Bar Admissions

  • Iowa State Courts
  • United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Recognition

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Environment, Energy & Resources Section
    • Labor & Employment Law Section
    • Litigation Section
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Environmental & Natural Resources Section, Former Council Chair
    • Labor & Employment Law Section
    • Litigation Section
    • Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission Member
  • Johnson County Bar Association
  • Dean Mason Ladd American Inn of Court

Civic and Volunteer Involvement

  • Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission, Former Chair
  • Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, Former Board Chair
  • Graduate of Iowa City Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Program
  • City of Iowa City Ad Hoc Committee on Senior Services, Past Committee Chair
  • Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Friendly Cities Task Force, Former Member
  • Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Board of Directors, Former Member
  • Iowa City High School Alumni Board, Former Member

Professional Experience

  • Joined Bradley & Riley PC in 2005
    • Labor and Employment Practice Group, Chair

Speeches and Publications

  • “Disability and Leave Overview:  A Lawyer’s Perspective,” Client Training (November 2021).
  • “Employment Law Update,” Iowa Optometric Association (October 2021).
  • “Use of Surveys in the Legal Practice,” Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa (March 2020).
  • “Health and Employment Law Update,” Iowa Associate of Corporate Counsel (June 2017).
  • “Environmental Considerations in Real Estate Transactions,” Iowa Associate of Corporate Counsel (August 2016).
  • “Health Law Update: Brought to You by Dwight Yokum and Kim Kardashian,” Iowa Associate of Corporate Counsel (April 2015).
  • “Social Media in the Workplace: Notes on Hiring, Firing and Free Speech,” Iowa Association of Regional Councils, Four States Conference (June 2013).
  • “The Fair Labor Standards Act: An Overview and Some Practical Considerations”, Employer’s Council of Iowa (2012).

Significant Cases

  • Ronan v. Mercy Hospital (Johnson County Dist. Ct. of Iowa, 2007). Obtained partial summary judgment and directed verdict for employer in defamation case.
  • Conservatorship of Alda Haravon (Johnson County Dist. Ct. of Iowa 2019; Iowa Ct. App. 2021). Obtained favorable trial court ruling and successfully defended it on appeal in conservatorship matter.
  • Rachelle Timmerman v. Diane Proctor, et al. (Benton County Dist. Ct. of Iowa 2013). Obtained favorable jury verdict in will contest.
  • Hora et al. v. Hora et al. (Washington County Dist. Ct. of Iowa 2022). Obtained favorable trial court ruling in Business Court derivative action involving family farming operation.
  • Represented plaintiffs in multi-party CERCLA contribution action and negotiated favorable settlement through mediation.
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