Michael Giudicessi practices as a member of the Faegre Baker Daniels labor and employment team. He joined the firm in 1990 as a founding partner of its Iowa office.

Michael's case experience includes discrimination, wrongful termination, contract and other related state and federal claims. He also counsels employers, board members and officers on corporate, transactional and employer compliance issues.

In the area of media law, Michael has more than 30 years of experience assisting communications and media clients with an array of legal issues, including libel and privacy defense, access litigation, pre-publication review and intellectual property matters.

Honors

Professional Associations

Civic Activities

• Science Center of Iowa — Board Member, 2010-present; Vice Chair, 2011-present; Governance Committee Chair, 2011-present
• Iowa Freedom of Information Council — Counsel and a Past President

Clerkships

Published Articles

Representative Employment and Commercial Cases

• Gray v. Harding and Haynes, 807 N.W.2d 296, WL 4578481 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011). Summary judgment for two Wells Fargo executives sued personally for tortious interference and fraudulent misrepresentation by discharged employee affirmed on appeal.
• Yon v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 605 F.3d 505 (8th Cir. 2010). Summary judgment for employer affirmed on appeal in case asserting FLSA, FMLA and state law claims. 
• American Arbitration Association employment proceeding, September 2010. Arbitrator entered a reasoned decision providing a complete defense award for financial services client in a FMLA case submitted after a four-day evidentiary trial. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa thereafter confirmed the award.
• Leichliter v. The Des Moines Register, 617 F. Supp. 2d 818 (S.D. Iowa 2009). Secured summary judgment for defendant employer in age case asserting federal and state law claims for discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
• Khounlo v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 771 N.W.2d 654, 2009 WL 1492862 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009). Summary judgment granted to employer in national origin discrimination and harassment case affirmed on appeal.
• Manning v. Wells Fargo Financial, 756 N.W.2d 480, 2008 WL 290257 (Iowa Ct. App. 2008). Obtained summary judgment for defendant employer in age discrimination case by longtime executive. Affirmed on reconsideration by the Iowa Court of Appeals.
• Union County, Iowa v. Piper Jaffray & Co., 525 F.3d 643 (8^th Cir. 2008). Client Piper Jaffray's motion to compel based on plaintiff's waiver of attorney-client privilege sustained.
• Ceurvorst v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 728 N.W.2d 852 (Iowa Ct. App. 2007). Summary judgment granted to defendant employer in contract and promissory estoppel case by employee claiming he was promised he would be an officer of the company and affirmed upon appeal.
• Leach v. Mediacom, 373 F.3d 895 (8th Cir. 2004) affirming 240 F.Supp.2d 994. Case by public access programmer seeking to compel client cable franchisee to carry programming dismissed after preliminary injunction hearing. Affirmed on appeal to the 8th Circuit.
• Colasante v. Wells Fargo Corp. 81 Fed. Appx. 611, 2003 WL 22734595 (8th Cir. No. 03-1315, filed October 24, 2003), affirming 211 F.R.D 555 (S.D. Iowa 2002). National origin discrimination case dismissed for failure to comply with federal rules regarding timing and service of proceeding. Affirmed by the 8th Circuit.
• Borneman v. Principal Life Insurance Co., 291 F. Supp. 2d 935 (S.D. Iowa 2003). Favorable decision for client in case that upheld employer's right to regulate market-timing trading activity of employee.
• Bublitz v. E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co., 224 F. Supp. 2d 1234 (S.D. Iowa 2002). One of a series of published opinions in a class action employee lawsuit against client involving provisions of a change in control severance plan.
• Rieger v. Jacque, 584 N.W.2d 247 (Iowa 1998). Insurance and financial services company client granted summary judgment in a professional malpractice case that involved issues of proximate and intervening cause in connection with estate planning and tax advice. Affirmed on appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Cases Interpreting First Amendment Rights

Reported cases involving libel or invasion of privacy claims against media clients:

• Bierman v. Weier and Author Solutions, Inc., 826 N.W.2d 436 (Iowa 2013)
• Stites v. Ogden Newspapers, 2002 WL 663621 (Iowa Ct. App. 2002)
• Caveman Adventures UN, Ltd. v. Press-Citizen Co., Inc., 633 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 2001)
• Johnson v. Nickerson and Des Moines Register & Tribune Co., 542 N.W.2d 506 (Iowa 1996)
• Jones v. Palmer Communications, Inc., 440 N.W.2d 884 (Iowa 1989)
• Albertson v. Newton Daily News, 1992 WL 309879, 20 Med. L. Rpt. 1578 (S.D. Iowa 1992)

Published decisions applying reporters' privilege for client journalists:

• Waterloo Courier v. Hawkeye Comm. College, 646 N.W.2d 97 (Iowa 2002)
• Bell v. City of Des Moines (WHO-TV, Appellant), 412 N.W.2d 585 (Iowa 1987)
• Lamberto v. Bown, 326 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa 1982)
• Stanfield v. Polk County, 18 Media L. Rptr. 1262 (Iowa Dist. Ct. 1990)

Published cases recognizing press rights to attend court proceedings and/or for access to court records:

•  DPS v. Iowa District Court for Polk Co., 801 N.W. 2d 544 (Iowa 2011) (attorneys for amicus Iowa Freedom of Information Council)
• State v. Knox, 464 N.W.2d 445 (Iowa 1990) (attorneys for amicus curiae)
• Iowa Freedom of Information Council v. Wifvat, 328 N.W.2d 920 (Iowa 1983)
• In re Iowa Freedom of Information Council, 724 F.2d 658 (8th Cir. 1983)

Reported decisions involving interpretation or enforcement of freedom of information statutes and ancillary access rights:

• Doe v. University of Iowa (The Associated Press, Intervenor-Appellee), 2013 WL 85781 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013)
• Hall v. Broadlawns Medical Center (Des Moines Register, Appellant), 811 N.W.2d 478, (Iowa 2012)
• Des Moines Register & Tribune Co. v. Dwyer, 542 N.W.2d 491 (Iowa 1996)
• Des Moines Independent Community School District v. Des Moines Register & Tribune Co., 487 N.W.2d 666 (Iowa 1992)
• Hawk Eye v. Jackson, 521 N.W.2d 750 (Iowa 1994) (attorneys for amicus curiae Iowa Freedom of Information Council)
• Lambert v. Polk County, Iowa, 723 F. Supp. 128 (S.D. Iowa 1989)
• Des Moines Register & Tribune Co. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, FBI, 563 F. Supp. 82 (D.D.C. 1983)
• Craigmont Care Center v. Dept. of Social Services, 325 N.W.2d 918 (Iowa Ct. App. 1982)

Served as lead trial counsel:

• Brown v. KCCI-TV (Polk Co. Iowa Dist. Ct. No. CL84214), December 2001 libel case. Jury returned a verdict for client after a seven-day trial.

Other Activities

• Iowa Supreme Court Committee to Study Lawyer Advertising Rules — Member, 2011-12
• Iowa Newspaper Foundation — Board Member, 2007-12, and Scholarship Committee Chair