Halpern, M. David

Nick Russo was born in Dubuque, Iowa on February 10, 1950. His parents were Ethel and R.N. Russo, who was then a practicing attorney in Dubuque. Nick graduated from Senior High School in 1968 and went on to attend Grinnell College on a football scholarship. He was nominated First String All-Conference Free Safety his junior and senior year by the coaches of the Midwest Conference.

At the end of his junior year, he decided that he wanted to go to law school. In recognition of the considerable cost that he would incur attending law school, Nick decided to obtain a technical skill which he could pursue while attending school to defray the expenses of tuition and books. Therefore, in the summer of his junior hear at Grinnell College, Nick obtained a degree in truck driving from Greer Technical Institute near Coal City, Illinois.

Upon Nick's graduation from Grinnell College in June of 1972, and before he applied to law school, he obtained a job driving tractor trailer from coast to coast. While driving, Nick applied for and was accepted to the University of Iowa Law School.

He began law school in September of 1973. During the day, he would attend classes and at night he would drive tractor trailer for various concerns hauling cement and gasoline. On vacations and over summer breaks, he drove full time for a number of different concerns hauling a variety of products including steel and boxed produce.

In January of 1977, Nick Russo was admitted to the Iowa Bar. On April 1, 1977, he began his law practice in downtown Iowa City. Almost immediately, he began to receive cases from workers that Nick met while driving tractor trailer. As a consequence, very early on his practice required an emphasis in the fields of personal injury and workers' compensation, an emphasis which has continued to the present date.

Nick's driving experience prepared him in many ways for the practice of law. While driving, he was exposed to the legal difficulties that blue collar workers frequently confronted while pursuing insurance claims for a work-related injury or an injury caused by the negligence of a third party. The insight and compassion that evolved out of this experience is reflected not only in the close relationship he developed with his clients, but also the outcome he achieved on their behalf.

Nick has tried over 100 contested cases to conclusion and has been recognized for his legal skill and professional achievement. Nick is a fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers which is open to membership for only 225 of the over 20,000 lawyers in Iowa. Membership is by appointment only. Nick is also Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. To obtain certification, the lawyer must pass a difficult examination, have demonstrated the requisite ski in your field to the examiners' satisfaction, have a clean ethical record, submit samples of your legal writing and submit recommendations from a number of judges and attorneys before and/or with whim you have processed cases. Of the many lawyers in Iowa City, only 18 are certified in personal injury trial practice by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Nick also served on the Iowa Association for Justice Board of Governors from 1985 to 1995 (formerly known as the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association). As governor, he would lobby for legislation favorable to the rights of victims of negligence of others as well as serve as a liaison for those members of the organization who have encountered problems or concerns that the Association should address.

Finally, in 1990, Nick was voted Member of the Year of the Iowa Association for Justice for work he did exposing inappropriate counseling at a local hospital by insurance companies of patients pursuing workers' compensation claims.

He is an avid firearms collector and a life member of the National Rifle Association. He target shoots every weekend. He also collects farm and construction toys, many of which are on display in his office to the delight of the children of Nick's clients. Nick has traveled extensively throughout the south pacific visiting battlefields on which the Marines fought in World War II, including Iwo Jima, Saipan and Peleliu. Finally, Nick is an enthusiastic gardener and enjoys canning the produce that he grows.

Nick's diverse and varied background allows him to bring to bear upon any case that he is handling a compassion, understanding and breadth of insight which is reflected not only in the relationship that he enjoys with his clients but also the outcome he obtains on their behalf.

Finally, Nick kept his commercial drivers license and on a moment's notice is authorized to climb into a tractor trailer and drive it to any destination hauling any load any time.