In Vandewalker v. Landherr, the Iowa Supreme Court examined a mother’s petition to modify the portion of her child custody order designating where her child would go to school. In this decision authored by Justice Mansfield, the Court vacated the decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals and affirmed the decision of the Worth
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Iowa Supreme Court dismisses efforts to declare firearms restrictions unconstitutional
By Rox Laird
The Iowa Supreme Court rejected two bids to strike down as unconstitutional Iowa statutes that remove criminal offenders’ right to possess firearms. The Court was split in both cases, with the justices lining up differently in each case.
In State v. Cole, the Court affirmed the Story County District Court’s conviction of Jordan Cole…
Dismissal of former tennis coach’s claims of defamation and wrongful discharge in violation of public policy was proper, Iowa Supreme Court finds
In Villarini v. Iowa City Community School District, the Iowa Supreme Court examined the dismissal of claims of wrongful discharge in violation of public policy and defamation that were brought by a former high school tennis coach. The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the decisions of both the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Johnson…
District court did not err in denying motions for directed verdict and for a new trial in obstetrician medical malpractice suit, Iowa Supreme Court determines
In Belhak v. Smith, a jury found in favor of a woman and her husband in their negligence suit against the woman’s obstetrician and the obstetrician’s employer. The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed, finding that one of the negligence claims lacked sufficient evidence for submission to the jury. However, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed…
State immunity bars wrongful imprisonment claim for money damages, Iowa Supreme Court holds
By Rox Laird
Eugene Sikora sued the State of Iowa and the Iowa Corrections Director seeking money damages claiming he was wrongly imprisoned for about five months longer than the law allowed due to a miscalculation by the Department of Corrections. The Iowa Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, held that Sikora’s claim for money damages for his…
Court finds for Corteva on claims of discrimination and retaliation by former employee
The Iowa Supreme Court reversed the Iowa Court of Appeals’ decision in part in McClure v. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., a case regarding a former Corteva Agriscience (“Corteva”) employee’s termination and the employee’s allegations of discrimination and retaliation against Corteva. The Court reinstated the Iowa District Court for Keokuk County’s…
Iowa Supreme Court approves warrantless search of fanny pack after it was removed by suspect
By Rox Laird
A police officer legally searched a fanny pack after a suspect had removed it and handed it to a companion, the Iowa Supreme Court held in a June 20 decision, because the fanny pack was removed at the moment the officer was attempting to handcuff and arrest the suspect.
Citing prior rulings that upheld…
Dismissal of claims brought by estates of women killed in low-head dam drowning was improper, Iowa Supreme Court concludes
In Estate of Kahn v. City of Clermont, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed the district court’s decision to dismiss two estates’ claims for premises liability and negligence brought against the City of Clermont, Fayette County Conservation Board, Fayette County, and the State of Iowa. Analyzing the district court’s dismissal, which was based on sovereign…
December 2024 Opinion Roundup
By Emma Sillman
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in ten cases in December 2024. At the links immediately below, you can read Rox Laird’s analysis of the following opinions:
State of Iowa v. Ashlee Marie Mumford, concerning Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure;
Bryan Singer, et al. v. City of Orange City, concerning…
Supreme Court reverses district court, finding against former Marion Police Department custodian suing for retaliation and harassment
In Rheeder v. Gray et al, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a district court’s denial of motions for summary judgment brought by the City of Marion and former Marion Police Department employees, defendants in a suit by a former custodian for the Marion Police Department. Under the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA), the Court…