Iowa Supreme Court Decisions 2022

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that In re T.H., 913 N.W.2d 578 (Iowa 2018) applies only to juvenile sex offenders whose cases are prosecuted and resolved in juvenile court and declined Defendant's invitation to apply its holding…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed Defendant's conviction for second-degree sexual abuse, holding that Defendant's constitutional right to a public trial was violated when the trial court closed his trial during the COVID-19…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of robbery in the first degree and felony murder with robbery in the first degree serving as the predicate felony, holding that the district court did not err or abuse…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the decision of the court of appeals reversing the decision of the district court affirming the Polk County assessor's original tax valuation of two large corporate office buildings in downtown…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that a spouse’s permanent disability suffered during the parties’ marriage may be considered when determining a traditional spousal support award, even if the length of the parties’ marriage does…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, assault causing serious injury while participating in a…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this interlocutory appeal, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the district court ordering certain records produced to Plaintiff in discovery before trial, holding that the district court erred by relying on…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court in favor of the State, the Iowa Department of Corrections, and the director of the Iowa Department of Corrections (collectively, Defendants) and against…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, holding that Iowa R. Evid. 5.106 and the common law…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part the decision of the court of appeals in this postconviction proceeding declining to reverse Appellant's second-degree murder conviction but ordering the return of a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's conviction of first-degree murder for killing his mother, holding that the district court did not err in admitting testimony from a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court denying relief in this declaratory judgment action to force a public referendum on the financing of a school district's proposed athletic stadium, holding that…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the district court approving a third five-year extension of a no-contact order that was originally entered after a serious incident of domestic violence in 2009, holding that…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court granting Defendant's motion to suppress his breath test because no interpreter was available and the advisory was read to him in English, holding that the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court dismissed this appeal brought by Defendant after pleading guilty to criminal gang participation, holding that Defendant's failure to file a motion in arrest of judgment to preserve his argument for…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court upheld Defendant's convictions and sentences for several drug offenses and other misdemeanors, holding that the trial court did not err in denying Defendant's motion to suppress or in denying…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the judgment of the district court affirming the decision of the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District to terminate Plaintiff's teaching…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction for domestic abuse assault and other offenses but vacated his sentence, holding that the prosecutor did not satisfy her promise to make a specific sentencing…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this criminal case, the Supreme Court dismissed Appellant's appeal for lack of jurisdiction, holding that Appellant's pro se notice of appeal filed while he was represented by counsel was a nullity under Iowa Code…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of first-degree murder arising from events in 1990 after his fourth trial, held almost thirty years after the crime, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court entering summary judgment in favor of Defendants and dismissing Plaintiff's action with prejudice, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on any of…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the judgment of the district court ruling that Willard McNaughton's right and interest in the disputed property in this case had been…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment entered by the district court in this action involving former co-counsel on a contingent-fee case, holding that the district court erred in finding…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa regarding the validity of an agreement between the cities and Mahaska County to establish…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the district court finding Iowa Code 815.1(4)(c) to be unconstitutional, holding that the State is not constitutionally required to provide ancillary services to an indigent…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of Defendants on Plaintiffs' premises liability claims against Alcoa Inc. and on their products liability claims against…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part the ruling of the court of appeals affirming the jury's verdict on libel-per-se damages and punitive damages, holding that remittitur was appropriate in this…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions for drug- and firearm-related offenses, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion by granting defense counsel's motion to withdraw and did not err in…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part the decision of the court of appeals affirming the decision of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to rescind Petitioner's license under Iowa Code 322.3(12),…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals and the district court on the questions of lien validity and priority in this mechanics' lien case, holding that there was no error. Law requires that…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that the Iowa Constitution is not the source of a fundamental right to an abortion necessitating a strict scrutiny standard of review for regulations affecting that right. In Planned Parenthood of…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 1994, Dorsey shot and killed a woman when he was 18 years and five days old. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole.…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2005, Sandoval was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to serve concurrent terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder…

Justia Opinion Summary: Pursuant to an arbitration award, American Home paid workers’ compensation benefits to an employee injured in 2008. American did not file a notice before the arbitration that, pursuant to Iowa Code 85.21, it was paying…

Justia Opinion Summary: A father going through a contentious divorce was accused by his young daughter of sexual abuse. A Department of Human Services social worker observed the forensic interview, believed it was credible, obtained additional…

Justia Opinion Summary: Vangen was convicted of criminal mischief in the fourth degree after the prosecution presented alternative theories to the jury—she either used a baseball bat to smash the windows of a car or she drove others to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff slipped and fell when she was on the icy driveway of a vacant home she was considering buying. The owners were not present, nor was anyone from the listing agency. The plaintiff sued the owners and the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the decision of the court of appeals reversing the judgment of the district court affirming the decisions of the administrative law judge (ALJ) and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court affirming the decision of the workers' compensation commissioner denying Petitioner's petition for benefits for trauma-induced mental injuries she suffered on…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the order of the juvenile court declining to remove the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) as the guardian of certain children, holding that DHS acted unreasonably in failing to send…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals and the district court judgment convicting Defendant of murder in the first degree, holding that a verdict-urging instruction did not improperly coerce the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the Iowa Business Specialty Court denying Appellants' motion to dismiss this action involving a shareholder's challenge to a corporate merger involving the purchase of a publicly…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of possession of a controlled substance under Iowa Code 124.401(5), holding that there was no error in the proceedings below. When Defendant was pulled over by an Iowa…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part the judgment of the court of appeals in this dissolution of marriage proceeding, holding that, contrary to the judgment of the lower court, Husband's concealment of…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed Defendant's conviction and sentence for ongoing criminal conduct and Defendant's conviction for robbery in the first degree, holding that Defendant's conduct did not satisfy the requirements…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the order of the district court granting Defendant's motion to suppress evidence of drugs seized following a pat-down, holding that law…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the decision of the court of appeals concluding that the public-duty doctrine barred Plaintiffs' tort claims against the State of Iowa and two municipalities, holding that the district court…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this dispute over the just compensation award for commercial property the Supreme Court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion by limiting the testimony of the property owner regarding his opinion…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the judgment of the district court granting Defendant a new trial at which a key witness associated with missing records would be barred from…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court convicting and sentencing Defendant but remanded for entry of a nun pro tune order to correct the fine suspended in the written sentencing order to the amount…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case disputing whether a drainage district properly reclassified benefits in connection with a drainage repair project the Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the lower courts did not err. The drainage district…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that the beneficiary of an estate cannot file a separate suit outside probate against the personal representative of the estate for claims arising out of and related to the personal…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of a beneficiary and ruling that an amendment to an irrevocable trust was invalid, holding that the surviving settlor of an…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff in this real estate dispute, holding that Plaintiff offered sufficient evidence to survive Defendants' motion for summary…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court granting a tax deed holder possession of disputed property and remanded the case for dismissal, holding that Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.943 barred the tax deed…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion to suppress and convicting him of being a felon in possession of a firearm, holding…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment for Defendants in this medical malpractice action, holding that Defendants were not estopped from asserting the statute of repose defense, which…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court dismissing Plaintiff's professional negligence action against several healthcare providers, holding that the district court properly dismissed the complaint…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion to suppress and convicting him of possession of methamphetamine, second offense, holding that law enforcement acted reasonably…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of an Insurer in this insurance dispute, holding that the mere loss of use of business property did not constitute "direct…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of Insurer in this insurance dispute, holding that summary judgment was properly granted. Insured, which operated a bar and…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the district court's of restitution against Defendant, holding that the restitution was constitutionally impermissible. Under Iowa Code 910.3B, an award of at least $150,000 is required when…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case involving Democrat Abby Finkenauer's candidacy for U.S. Senate the Supreme Court sustained the State Objections Panel's decision to reject objections as to the signatures of three electors who had provided…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the juvenile court that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) did not apply to the termination of parental rights proceedings below, holding that the juvenile court did not err in…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the district court denying Employer's motion for a new trial and motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict following a jury trial on…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court imposing a six-day jail sentence and ordering Defendant to pay restitution costs for operating a motor vehicle while her license was barred as a habitual…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this criminal action, the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the district court on remand that Defendant failed to prove a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury, holding that Defendant's…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this criminal action, the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the district court on remand that Defendant failed to prove a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury, holding that Defendant's…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court affirming the conclusion of the workers' compensation commissioner that Claimant's rotator cuff injury was a scheduled shoulder injury rather than an…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction, rendered after a second jury trial, of second-degree murder, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on her allegations of error. Over twenty-five years after…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant of various drug-related crimes and sentencing him to a total of forty-two years in prison,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, interference with official acts causing bodily…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court further modified a hybrid traditional and rehabilitative alimony award that the court of appeals modified in this case, holding that this Court hereby adopts transitional alimony as another tool to do…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions but vacated his sentence and remanded the case for resentencing by a different judge, holding that the prosecutor breached the parties' plea agreement by failing to…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated Defendant's convictions for three counts of sexual abuse in the second degree, holding that an erroneous jury instruction prejudiced Defendant's rights. At issue was the district court's…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court concluding that Plaintiff's filed petition did not relate back to her previously rejected filing, holding that…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the juvenile court terminating the parental rights with respect to two Indian children under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), 25 U.S.C. 1903(4), and Iowa Code chapter 232B…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant, following a guilty plea, of lascivious acts with a child, holding that Defendant was not…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court remanded this case for a new trial, holding that the district court misapplied changes to the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure when it excluded certain evidence in this case, and the ruling may have…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the district court ordering an Iowa limited liability company (LLC) to pay its former manager the attorney fees he incurred litigating against the LLC pursuant to Iowa Code…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed Defendant's conviction for sexually abusing a client during a Reiki treatment session, holding that the district court erred in allowing evidence about the investigation by the Iowa Board of…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's plea-based conviction for a drug offense, a class "C" felony, holding that Defendant's challenges to the validity of his plea were unavailing. At issue was this Court's supervisory…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction that arose from the search of her backpack after police officers encountered a stolen car parked with the engine running, holding that the district court did not err in…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court denying Defendant's motion to suppress evidence of methamphetamine found in his coat pocket during a traffic stop, holding that the search was…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the district court denying Defendant's motion to dismiss the trial information filed against her, holding that the State violated the speedy indictment rule. On July 5, 2020,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court granting the governor's request to dismiss this lawsuit challenging the Governor's August 2020 public health disaster proclamation that temporarily required…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the order of the juvenile court terminating Father's parental rights to his child, holding that the juvenile court erred when it terminated Father's parental rights because the child was not…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant of operating while intoxicated after a trial at which Defendant did not appear, holding that a court may conduct a criminal trial on a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction for aiding and abetting a robbery, holding that the district court did not err in holding that Defendant failed to prove that his constitutional right to an impartial…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction and sentence for sexual abuse in the third degree, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error. Defendant entered a guilty plea to sex…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction for sexual abuse in the second degree arising out of the sexual abuse of his daughter, N.F., holding that the trial court erred in instructing the jury but that the error…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court finding Defendant guilty of domestic abuse assault and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, holding that the district court had jurisdiction to enter the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction entered upon his Alford plea to the charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, willful injury resulting in bodily injury, assault with a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's sentence to an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed five years imposed in connection with his plea of guilty to operating while intoxicated, holding that there was no…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the trial court convicting Defendant of two counts of suborning perjury and two counts of obstructing prosecution, holding that a defendant cannot violate Iowa Code 719.3 and…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court entered after the jury returned a no-negligence verdict in favor of a surgeon in this medical malpractice case, holding that the district court erred in…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of harassment in the first degree, holding that the district court did not err on remand in denying Defendant's motion challenging the representativeness of the jury pool…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed Defendant's conviction for possession of cocaine and affirmed her conviction of interference with official acts, holding that the warrantless entry into Defendant's apartment to arrest her was…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the decision of the court of appeals and affirmed the juvenile court's order terminating a guardianship of a minor child that was established with parental consent, holding that there was no…