Hixson & Brown, P.C. is an AV Preeminent®-rated personal injury law firm with over 60 combined years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice, birth injuries, and serious accidents — across Iowa, Minnesota, and beyond.
At Hixson & Brown, P.C., we believe that experience and hard work are vital to achieving results for our clients. Whether you have been injured by medical malpractice, suffered a birth injury, been hurt in an accident, or experienced any other type of serious personal injury — we are here to help.
From our office in West Des Moines, we represent injured individuals and their families throughout Iowa, neighboring states, and nationwide. We are trial lawyers at heart, and insurance companies know it. That reputation consistently produces stronger results for the people we serve.
We also understand that coming to our office is not always possible. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we will come to you — whether at your home, in the hospital, or wherever is most convenient. Evening and weekend appointments are available upon request.
The cases below represent a selection of recent results — each one a real family who trusted us with some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Some of these cases were handled in co-counsel with Trial Lawyers for Justice (TL4J). They represent only a portion of the firm’s full results record spanning decades of practice.
⭐ LANDMARK VERDICT
Jury Verdict · Medical Malpractice
A landmark jury verdict secured against Mayo Clinic – one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts Mayo Clinic’s history. This case arose from catastrophic injuries caused by negligent medical care, and required years of expert preparation and trial-ready advocacy to achieve full accountability.
The result demonstrates what is possible when experienced trial counsel refuses to accept anything less than justice for a seriously harmed patient and their family.
Settlement · Wrongful Death
Improper nursing and physician care during hospitalization following spinal fusion surgery, resulting in the patient’s death. A second significant settlement obtained in the same matter.
Settlement · Medical Malpractice
Failure to diagnose a bowel obstruction, resulting in loss of bowel and a severe necrotizing infection that caused permanent, life-altering harm.
Settlement · Wrongful Death
Improper nursing and physician care during hospitalization following spinal fusion surgery, resulting in the patient’s death. First settlement recovered in this matter.
Settlement · Birth Injury / Cerebral Palsy
Parents of a baby born with low APGAR scores, low pH, and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) sustained during labor and delivery. Medical personnel failed to appropriately monitor the baby and were unaware of fetal distress prior to delivery. Defendants denied all liability.
Settlement · Surgical Negligence
Surgical error committed during spinal surgery resulting in permanent paraplegia and complete loss of mobility for the patient.
Settlement · Wrongful Death
Failure to diagnose a serious infection that went untreated, resulting in the wrongful death of the patient and devastating loss for the family.
Settlement · Medical Malpractice / Birth Injury
A hospitalized infant began exhibiting bilious vomiting. Failure to timely perform an upper and lower GI (barium enema) resulted in failure to diagnose a malrotated bowel, causing the baby to lose most of his intestines. The child required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and supplemental G-tube feeding. Defendants denied all liability.
Settlement · Wrongful Death
Failure to diagnose a birth-related complication resulting in the death of the patient. A difficult case requiring specialized obstetric expert testimony.
Settlement · Wrongful Death
A patient presented to a local clinic with mid-back and scapular pain. Cardiac enzyme testing was performed and the patient was released. Results returned showing an elevated Troponin level, but the patient was never notified. The patient died the following morning of a heart attack. Defendants denied all liability.
Some of the selected cases handled in co-counsel with Trial Lawyers for Justice (TL4J). This is not a complete record of the firm’s results. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.
Attorney/President · Hixson & Brown, P.C.
J. Russell Hixson is the founding attorney and president of Hixson & Brown, P.C. With decades of experience exclusively in serious personal injury and medical malpractice law, Russ has established himself as one of Iowa’s foremost trial attorneys — and a nationally recognized advocate for injured families through his work with Trial Lawyers for Justice (TL4J).
Russ understands that behind every case is a family in crisis — parents facing a catastrophic birth injury diagnosis, patients blindsided by surgical negligence, families shattered by a preventable death. He fights relentlessly for each of them, backed by a record that includes landmark verdicts and multi-million-dollar recoveries against some of the nation’s largest medical institutions.
His most notable recent result: a $19.8 million jury verdict against Mayo Clinic in November 2025 — one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts against Mayo Clinic.
Martindale-Hubbell — highest peer rating for legal ability and ethics
Recognized among America's premier trial attorneys
Iowa Association for Justice — 2020
National co-counsel network for complex, high-value injury cases
Licensed in Iowa; handles cases nationally through TL4J co-counsel partnership
Martindale-Hubbell verified client review rating
Not all personal injury attorneys are equipped to handle medical malpractice, birth injury, and catastrophic accident cases. These are among the most complex and fiercely contested claims in the legal system — demanding deep specialized knowledge, trusted expert networks, and a genuine willingness to take powerful institutions to trial.
We concentrate on serious personal injury — medical malpractice, birth injuries, and catastrophic accidents. This specialization means every client gets the depth of knowledge their case demands.
We work with board-certified physicians, nurses, and specialists nationwide who identify negligence, evaluate damages, and testify powerfully on behalf of injured families.
Insurance companies know we will go to trial. That credibility — built over decades — consistently produces stronger settlements and verdicts than firms that settle quickly and quietly.
Every case involves a family in crisis. We communicate clearly, respond promptly, and treat every client with the dignity and respect they deserve — from first call to final resolution.
Our AV Preeminent® rating is awarded by fellow attorneys and judges — the professionals who observe our work firsthand. It is the legal profession's highest form of peer recognition.
We handle cases on a pure contingency fee basis. No upfront costs, no hourly fees, no hidden charges. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe us absolutely nothing.
Our West Des Moines law firm concentrates on medical malpractice cases while also handling serious personal injury claims. We have the resources, expertise, and determination to take on hospitals, insurance companies, and healthcare systems throughout Iowa.
When doctors, hospitals, or healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care, patients suffer serious and permanent harm. We hold negligent medical professionals accountable for surgical errors, misdiagnosis, birth injuries, and more.
Oxygen deprivation, improper use of forceps or vacuum, and failure to respond to fetal distress can cause lifelong neurological damage. We fight for families whose children were harmed during labor and delivery.
When someone else’s negligence leaves you seriously hurt, you deserve an attorney who will fight for full and fair compensation. We handle catastrophic injury cases across Iowa, Minnesota, and nationally — taking on insurance companies and corporations that try to minimize your losses.
Serious car and truck accidents cause life-altering injuries. We handle high-stakes motor vehicle cases across Iowa and Minnesota, taking on insurance companies that undervalue catastrophic claims.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence — whether in a hospital, a delivery room, or on the road — time matters. Statutes of limitations are strict. Don’t wait to protect your rights.
The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. You should consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific situation.
Contacting Hixson & Brown, P.C. by phone, email, or contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Such a relationship is only established through a signed engagement letter.
Please do not send confidential or sensitive information until an attorney-client relationship has been formally established. Information sent prior may not be protected by attorney-client privilege.
Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
Questions? Call (515) 222-2620