In June 2024, senior partner Joel Andreesen led Rodriguez & Associates’ trial team to secure a record motor vehicle collision verdict in the state of Iowa. The team obtained a $35 million award from an eastern Iowa jury for a young Iowa woman who was catastrophically injured by a negligent truck driver and the trucking company for whom he worked.
Born and raised on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa, Joel T. Andreesen had always hoped to return to the community that taught him the value of hard work and dedication to share his hard-earned skillset as an attorney. After leaving home, Joel built a 30-plus year law career in California that has led to his growing reputation as an award-winning trial attorney in catastrophic injury cases. His work and the collective work of Rodriguez & Associates have led to countless life-changing results for the people they represent.
Representing an Iowa family from his hometown was the catalyst Joel needed to pursue bar admission to his home state. While the Rodriguez & Associates trial team, based in Bakersfield, California, had been granted temporary bar admission to handle the case, Joel’s general admission to the Iowa State Bar extends his reach as an experienced personal injury attorney and the resources of the firm to victims of negligence across Iowa who have nowhere else to turn.
After several months of paperwork, extensive background checks, and reference checks, Joel was sworn in to the Iowa State Bar by Iowa Supreme Court Justice Christopher McDonald in December 2024.
“My career has come full circle, and the thought I had many years ago about becoming a licensed attorney in Iowa is now true. I think my connection to Iowa and my personal and professional relationships in the state will help more families protect their rights and seek justice.”
– Joel Andreesen, senior partner at Rodriguez & Associates
The work Rodriguez & Associates began in 2001 has expanded considerably to include victims of negligence throughout California and the United States. Joel’s achievement has further unlocked the firm’s potential to invest in opportunities that promote its growth and reach communities where individuals and families benefit from the immense skills Rodriguez & Associates offers.