Of Counsel

Robert V.P. Waterman, Jr.

Biography

Bob Waterman Jr. joined Lane & Waterman in 1981 and for 40 years has focused his civil litigation practice for the defense primarily in the areas of professional malpractice, product liability, and insurance coverage litigation. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner from 2017 to 2021.

Bob is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, for the areas of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law, and Bet-the-Company Litigation, in Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating, in Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers with a “Band 1” rating for Litigation: General Commercial, and in the Iowa Super Lawyers Top 10 List for the years of 2011-2019. In 2014, Bob was awarded The 2014 Client Choice Award for Litigation in Iowa. Bob Waterman is viewed as an “excellent, top-notch attorney” and an “outstanding litigator.” Clients add that he is “very knowledgeable, analytical and has a great understanding of the applicable law.”

Bob is a past President of the Iowa State Bar Association (2011-12), and remains active in numerous law related organizations, including:

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (State Chair, 2008-2010)
  • Fellow, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers (Director, 2015-present)
  • Director, Iowa State Bar Foundation (2006-2018)
  • Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Member, Iowa Defense Counsel Association (Director, 2005-2008)
  • Member, Illinois Association of Defense Counsel
  • Member, Defense Research Institute
  • Member, American, Iowa, and Illinois Bar Associations
  • Member, Scott County Bar Association (President, 2000-2001) and Rock Island County Bar Association

Bob is active in the Quad Cities community, currently serving as a Trustee of the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, Director of the Friendly House (past President 1990-92), and member of the Investment Committee of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Senior Warden, Vestry, 1996). He received his B.A. from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of The Iowa Law Review. He resides in Bettendorf with his wife Kim, and they have two adult sons.


Examples of recent accomplishments include:

  • In December 2019, Bob Waterman and his law partner, Abbey Furlong, successfully defended at trial, a Dubuque County Chiropractor in a professional malpractice action in which the Plaintiff alleged a chiropractic manipulation caused permanent spinal injuries.  The Dubuque County, Iowa, jury returned a unanimous defense verdict and awarded no damages to the Plaintiff.
  • In October 2019, Bob Waterman and his law partner, Ben Patterson, successfully defended at trial, two cardiologists and their eastern Iowa cardiology group, in a professional malpractice action in which the plaintiff alleged the Defendants breached the standard of care causing the death of Plaintiff’s spouse. The Plaintiff sought $3 million in damages.  The week-long jury trial ended with the jury returning a unanimous verdict finding the cardiologists were not liable and awarded no damages.
  • In March 2018, Bob Waterman and his law partner, Abbey Furlong, successfully defended an eastern Iowa chiropractor in a professional malpractice action in which the plaintiff alleged a chiropractic adjustment caused her injury.  The Iowa District Court for Scott County entered an order granting summary judgment in favor of the chiropractor and dismissing all claims, finding the plaintiff (1) failed to present required expert testimony establishing the applicable chiropractic standard of care; (2) failed to establish the chiropractor breached that standard of care; and (3) failed to establish a causal relationship between the alleged breach and plaintiff’s alleged injuries.
  • In November 2018, Bob Waterman successfully defended on appeal a jury verdict in favor of Lane & Waterman’s client, an eastern Iowa obstetrical group, whose patient sought monetary damages for an alleged delay in diagnosing a rare pregnancy condition. After a 5-day trial, the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on May 12, 2017, and awarded no damages to the patient/plaintiff. The plaintiff then appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court, which transferred this appeal to the Court of Appeals.  Presiding Judge Tabor entered their unanimous decision on November 7, 2018, affirming the defense verdict by finding evidentiary rulings by the trial court were correct and did not prejudice the plaintiff’s case at trial.
  • In November 2017, Bob and his law partner, Mikkie Schiltz, successfully defended an eastern Iowa family practice physician and his group in a medical malpractice lawsuit seeking in excess of $5 million. After a 2-week trial, the Henry County jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on November 17, 2017, awarding no damages.
  • In September 2017, Bob and his law partner, Jason O’Rourke, successfully represented clients in recovering a jury verdict of $3 million in an accounting malpractice action tried in Scott County, Iowa.
  • In September 2017, Bob successfully defended an eastern Iowa surgeon in a medical malpractice lawsuit where the estate of a deceased patient sought in excess of $10 million. Bob’s client was dismissed from this suit after the second day of trial. The Dubuque County jury later returned a verdict for $10 million against the remaining co-defendant not represented by Lane & Waterman.
  • In May 2017, Bob successfully defended an eastern Iowa obstetrical group and its midwives in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by a patient who sought monetary damages for an alleged delay in diagnosing a rare partial molar pregnancy. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on May 12, 2017.
  • In November 2015, Bob successfully defended an eastern Iowa law firm in a legal malpractice lawsuit brought by a former client who sought monetary damages in excess of $1 million for alleged negligence in preparing an agreement concerning the sale of farm land and subsequent trust administration support. After a 6-day trial, judgment was entered on April 13, 2016, in favor of the law firm and awarded no damages to the plaintiffs.
  • In April 2015, Bob and his law partner, Mikkie Schiltz, successfully defended an eastern Iowa anesthesia group and its CRNAs in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by a patient who sought monetary damages for personal injuries from a nerve block. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on April 17, 2015.
  • In February 2015, Bob successfully defended a Davenport, Iowa, obstetrician  in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by a patient who sought in excess of $4.2 million for birth injuries resulting from a delivery complicated by a Shoulder Dystocia presentation. The Scott County jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on February 13, 2015.
  • In May 2014, Bob successfully defended a Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, chiropractor in a malpractice lawsuit brought by a 30-year old patient and her husband who sought in excess of $350,000 for injuries following chiropractic manipulative therapy, which allegedly caused bilateral vertebral artery dissections and a resulting stroke. The Lee County jury in Ft. Madison returned a unanimous defense verdict on May 23, 2014.
  • In May 2014, Bob successfully defended a local general surgeon in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by a patient who sought $1.25 million for injuries from a bowel perforation following liposuction surgery.  The Rock Island County jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on May 9, 2014.
  • In February 2014, Bob successfully defended a local family practice physician and hospital in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by the estate and family of a deceased patient who suffered a deadly heart attack 3-weeks following a normal cardiac stress test.  The Scott County jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on February 17, 2014.
  • In October 2013, Bob successfully defended an Iowa law firm in a legal malpractice lawsuit brought by an Iowa municipality which sued to recover $4.5 million it had agreed to pay to settle an underlying whistle-blower case. After 3 weeks of trial, the Scott County jury returned a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the law firm.

Additional Profile

Education

Education

Northwestern University (B.A. 1978)
University of Iowa College of Law (J.D. 1981)
Managing Editor, Iowa Law Review, 1980-1981

Admissions

Admissions

Iowa – 1981
Illinois – 1983
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa – 1981
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa – 1987
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois – 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit – 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit – 2012
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio – 2010

Professional Associations

Professional Associations

President, Iowa State Bar Association (2011-2012)
Director, Iowa State Bar Foundation (2006-present)
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (State Chair, 2008-2010)
Fellow, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers (Director, 2015-present)
Member, Defense Research Institute
Member, Iowa Defense Counsel Association (Director, 2005-2008)
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
Member, Illinois Association of Defense Counsel
Member, American, Iowa, and Illinois Bar Associations
Member, Scott County Bar Association (President, 2000-2001) and Rock Island County Bar Association

Honors

Honors

• Recognition by the Iowa State Bar Association, ISBA’s 125th president hails from long line of legal professions. The Iowa Lawyer, June 3, 2011.
• Recognition by the Iowa State Bar Association, ISBA’s new VP pushes himself in and out of the courtroom, office. The Iowa Lawyer, September, 2009.
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants) (Since 2007)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating (since 1996)
Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers “Band 1” rating for Litigation: General Commercial (since 2003)
Iowa Super Lawyers Top 10 List for 2011-2020

Awards

Awards

Super Lawyers Award | Robert V.P. Waterman, Jr.

Community

Community

Trustee, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation
Member, Board of Directors, Friendly House (President 1990-1992)
Member, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Investment Committee (Senior Warden, Vestry, 1996)

Speeches & Publications

Speeches & Publications

Presenter, “Masters in Trial, A trial demonstration from opening statement through jury deliberation,” sponsored by ABOTA Foundation, May 19, 2017, Drake Legal Clinic, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “The Art of Today’s Trial: Techniques to Switch Up Your Game,” Bench-Bar Conference, sponsored by the Iowa State Bar Association, May 5, 2016.
Presenter, “Medical Malpractice, Case & Client Selection,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, February 25, 2016, Des Moines, Iowa.
Program Moderator, “As Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation,” judicial panel consisting of Judges Joel Barrows, Marlita Greve, Mark Lawson, Thomas Reidel, Nancy Tabor and John Wright, National Business Institute, Inc., December 11, 2014, Davenport, Iowa.
Presenter, “Opening Statements and Closing Arguments,” Scott County Bar Association 2014 Last Chance Seminar, December 19, 2014, Davenport, Iowa.
Presenter, “Justice Not Politics: Lessons Learned from Iowa’s 2010 Judicial Retention Election,” American College of Trial Lawyers Regional Meeting, May 16, 2014, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Presenter, “Economic Experts: Law in the New Economy,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, February 27-28, 2014, Des Moines, Iowa.
Program Moderator, “What Civil Court Judges Want You To Know,” judicial panel consisting of Judges Mark D. Cleve, Gary D. McKendrick, Thomas G. Reidel, and Marlita Greve, National Business Institute, Inc., October 5, 2012, Davenport, Iowa.
Presenter, “Justice Not Politics: Lessons Learned From The 2010 Judicial Retention Elections,” Dubuque County Bar Association Annual Meeting, April 12, 2012, Dubuque, Iowa.
Presenter, “Trial of the Patent Case,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, February 24, 2012, Des Moines, Iowa.
Investiture of Iowa Supreme Court Justice Thomas D. Waterman, June 3, 2011, House Chamber, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “Update from the Iowa State Bar Association,” Iowa Judges Association Membership Semi-Annual Meeting, June 15, 2011, Des Moines, Iowa.
Investiture of Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Michael R. Mullins, August 12, 2011, Iowa Judicial Building, Des Moines, Iowa.
Orientation of 1L Class, University of Iowa College of Law, August 14, 2011 Iowa City, Iowa.
Co-Presenter, “Judicial Retention in Iowa,” with Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, 4th Annual Corporate Counsel Forum, University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, October 1, 2010, Iowa City, Iowa.
Presenter, “Case Management – Defense Perspective,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, February 25, 2010, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “Winning the Business Case,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, February 26, 2009, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “Evidentiary Matters: Recent Decisions,” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, March 3, 2006, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “Use of Expert Testimony in a Bad Faith Case,” Iowa Defense Counsel 39th Annual Meeting & Seminar, September 25, 2003, Des Moines, Iowa.
“Medical Malpractice in Iowa,” presented at an all-day seminar sponsored by National Business Institute, Inc., May 21, 2003, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Presenter, “Personal Injury Settlements in Iowa: Practical Methods for Perfecting the Settlement of a Claim,” National Business Institute, Inc., August 22, 2002, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Presenter, “Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Iowa: Strategies in Preparation and Valuation,” National Business Institute, Inc., September 13, 2001, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Presenter, “The Evolution of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,” 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993),” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, February 16, 2001, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Giving an Effective Opening Statement (A Defense Counsel’s Perspective),” Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, March 2, 2000, Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenter, “The Art of Jury Selection,” Iowa Defense Counsel Association 1999 Annual Meeting and Seminar, September 24, 1999, Des Moines, Iowa.