Joe Happe is a full time mediator-arbitrator handling cases all over Iowa and Northern Missouri. Prior to becoming a mediator, Joe's litigation practice was focused on general negligence cases, construction defect and design cases, professional negligence, fire causation, and insurance law. He has significant experience in products liability cases, dramshop, agricultural cases, premises liability, death cases, personal injury cases, asbestos/mass tort litigation, and complex workers’ compensation. On occasion, he has handled consumer fraud defense, medical device, employment, railroad FELA, defamation and a wide range of other cases. As an attorney, he represented all parties to construction disputes and arbitrated using both AAA and private arbitrators.
Joe Happe is a fellow of the prestigious Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is limited to 250 attorneys who have displayed exceptional skills and the highest integrity. He is rated "AV" by the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review.
Litigants mediating a case don't want a mere messenger, they want a mediator with a plan. Developing a plan takes subject matter experience and with 33 years of litigation experience, Joe has the background and knowledge to come up with a flexible, active and aggressive plan to settle your case. Attorneys trust his insights and experience as a mediator and value the relationships he has built up with mediating attorneys.
Joe Happe is a seasoned litigator with experience in nearly 100 jury trials and many workers compensation hearings. He trained as a mediator in 2001 and has mediated over 300 cases.
Now as a mediator, Joe offers an aggressive and involved form of mediation service using the latest and most effective form of mediation to conclude a settlement in even the most complex cases.
Cases mediated have included district court cases of all kinds: personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, discrimination, employment, products liability, construction cases (including construction defect, design defect and construction delay), professional liability (medical, legal and accounting) and fire cause and origin cases.
With his background in workers’ compensation mediation, he has mediated many workers’ compensation cases, some involving settlement of a related third-party district court matter.
Joe is available for mediations outside of Iowa and he has a growing regional practice, especially in the construction litigation area.
Case Experience
Agricultural
Appellate
Automotive
Business Dissolution
Civil Rights
Commercial/Business
Community Associations
Condominiums
Construction
Consumer Fraud
Contract Disputes
Debt Collections
Discrimination
EEOC
Employment
Energy Sector (Oil/Gas)
Engineering
Environmental
Family Businesses
Health Care
Insurance
Internet
Land Use/Planning
Landlord/Tenant
Legal Malpractice
Lemon Law
Libel & Slander
Local Govt./Municipalities
Media & Communications
Medical Devices
Medical Malpractice
Nursing Homes
Partnerships
Personal Injury
Pharmaceuticals
Premises Liability
Probate
Product Liability
Professional Fees
Professional Liability
Professional Malpractice
Professional Negligence
Property Damage
Public Policy
Railroad & Trucking
Real Estate
Religious Institutions
Sexual Harassment
Shareholder Disputes
Technology
Telecommunications
Torts
Transportation
Trusts / Estates
Unfair Competition
Venture Capital
Wage & Hour/FMLA
Workers' Compensation
Wrongful Death
Education
Creighton University 1982
Creighton University School of Law 1985
Memberships & Affiliations
American Association of ADR Attorneys (Board Certified) **The Iowa Supreme Court does not certify lawyers as specialists in the practice of law and certification is not required.
American Bar Association - Alternate Dispute Section
American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law
C. Edwin Moore American Inn of Court
Iowa Association of Workers Compensation Attorneys
Iowa State Bar Association Construction Law Section
Iowa State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section (Section Chair 2018-present)
Polk County Bar Association Board of Directors
ISBA Board of Governors (2017-present)
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, Iowa Bar Foundation
Fellow, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
Inns of Mediation Board Member
Rates Information
Hourly rates are $285.00 per hour for preparation and mediation sessions. Travel time is billed at $100 per hour, and mileage, airline fees and hotel expenses may apply. No administrative fee, cancellation fee or hourly minimums are charged. Different hourly rates for multi-party or multi-day mediations may apply on a case by case basis.
