Robert E. Tucker, Ph.D., J.D. , president of Tucker Law Office, is a Des Moines, Iowa attorney who specializes in workers' compensation, personal injury and medical malpractice law. 

Rob was born in Spokane, Washington and attended Gonzaga University where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication. He continued his education at the University of Oregon where he earned a Master of Arts in speech and then a Ph.D. in speech communication from the University of Arizona where taught argumentation and advocacy. 

After receiving his advanced degrees, he accepted assistant professorship position in speech communication at Iowa State University where he was also the director of its forensics program.  After leaving Iowa State, he earned a J. D. degrees from Drake University and established Tucker Law Office. Rob  has dedicated his professional life to the twin pursuits of communication and the law. As both an attorney and a communication and trial consultant, he is uniquely trained, experienced and positioned to presents his clients' cases in the most effective way.

Rob is active in the Rotary Club of Des Moines where he serves on the scholarship committee that awards six $8,000 college scholarships to Des Moines high school students every year. He's married, the father of two and lives in Ankeny.

Areas of Practice

• 75% workers' compensation (work-related Injuries and deaths)
• 20% personal Injury (auto accidents, slip and fall accidents)
• 5% other injury litigation
• Legal malpractice
• Bad Faith
• Nursing home
• Mass torts / Class action
• Products liability law
• Medical devices
• Railroad worker injury and FELA

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of practice devoted to litigation

Certified Legal Specialties

• Worker's compensation law, Iowa Supreme Court
• Personal injury, Iowa Supreme Court

Bar Admissions

• Iowa, 1991
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa, 1991
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa, 1991
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1991

Education

• Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
  • J.D. - 1991
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
  • Ph.D. - 1984
  • Major: Speech communication: argumentation
• University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
  • M.A. - 1981
  • Major: Speech and rhetoric
• Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington
  • B.A.magna cum laude - 1977

Published Works

• Individual Event Judging Philosophies, SCA Annual Convention, 1990

Representative Cases

• In Interest of D.M., 516 N.W.2d 888 (Iowa Dist Ct. 1994)

Representative Clients

• Workers' compensation claimants
• Personal injury plaintiffs
• Focus groups for lawyers
• Communication consulting clients

References

• John J. Gajdel, Attorney at Law, Urbandale, Iowa
• Patrick O'Bryan, Attorney at Law, Des Moines, Iowa
• Peter Berger, Attorney at Law, Urbandale, Iowa
• Mark Nieters, Attorney at Law, Windsor Heights, Iowa

Classes/Seminars

• Speech Communication and Debate (Argument), Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 1984 - 1990
• Speech Communication and Debate (Argument), Des Moines Area Community College-Ankeny, 1992 - 1993

Honors and Awards

• Dissertation: Detecting Deception in a Labor-Management Negotiation, 1984
• Sr. M. M. Conway Debate Scholarship, Gonzaga University, 1973 - 1974

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Association for Justice, Member, 1991 - Present
• Iowa State Bar Association, Member, 1991 - Present
• Polk County Bar Association, Member
• Iowa State Bar, Section of Labor and Employment Litigation and Workers' Compensation Law, Member, Workers' Compensation Council
• American Bar Association, Member, Committees on Labor & Employment, Workers' Compensation
• American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm
• Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, Section of Workers' Compensation, Member
• American Association for Justice, Section of Workers' Compensation, Member
• American Society of Trial Consultants, Member
• American Society for Training and Development, Member
• Epilepsy Foundation of America, Former Adjunct Board Member
• Ankeny Area Democrats, Ankeny, Iowa, Member and Co-Chair
• Polk County Democrats, Member
• American Trial Lawyers Association

Past Employment Positions

• Tucker Law Office, Attorney/Owner, 1992 - Present
• Watson & Gajdel Law Firm, Attorney, 1991 - 1992

Pro Bono Activities

• Former Adjunct Board Member, Epilepsy Foundation of America, Towson, Maryland, 2004 - 2007
• Former President, Epilepsy Association of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, 1990 - 2003
• Candidate, Iowa House of Representatives, 2004
• Chair, Ankeny Area Democrats, Ankeny, Iowa, 2004 - Present

Ancillary Businesses

• Focus groups for lawyers
• Expert assistance in assigning case values
• Trial consultant
• Rob Tucker Consulting, Ph.D., J.D.
• Legal and communication consulting

Languages

• English
• Spanish
• Bosnian
• Italian

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2400 86th Street, Suite 35
Des Moines, IA 50322
Phone 515.276.8282
Toll free: 800.276.5076
Fax: 515.276.4001