Lay Landowner Cannot Testify About Specific Comparable Sales to Support the Valuation of His Land Without Expert Testimony, Iowa Supreme Court Rules
Iowa has long recognized what is know as “the property owner rule,” which permits a landowner to testify as a non-expert in condemnation cases about the landowner’s opinion of the value of its own property. Iowa has also long recognized that property values can be supported by the prices paid in comparable land sales. …
read moreMiranda-Type Warning Not Required For Pat-Down Searches, Iowa Supreme Court Rules
In an opinion issued on Friday, April 22, the Iowa Supreme Court held in State v. Hauge that a law enforcement officer was justified in requesting that a front-seat passenger exit a two-door vehicle in order to arrest a backseat pas …
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Iowa Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit Uphold Denials Of Insurance Coverage Arising From COVID-19 Business Closures
In separate opinions, each issued on Friday, April 22, the Iowa Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that businesses that closed in spring 2020 to comply with COVID-19 emergency regulations could not obtain coverage under commercial insurance policies that required “direct physi …
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Iowa Supreme Court to hear oral argument in one case April 20
The Iowa Supreme Court on April 20 will hear its final scheduled oral argument for the 2021-22 term, which ends in June.
One case, Hoffman v. Clark, will be argued at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Two other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Go to On Brief’s “read more
In Emergency Opinion, Iowa Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Abby Finkenauer’s U.S. Senate Nominating Petition
Former Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Iowa for the 2022 general election. She submitted her nominating petition with the Iowa Secretary of State on March 10, 2022. Two private citizens filed objections to the petition, asserting defects wi
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Iowa Supreme Court affirms transgender discrimination claims against Iowa Department of Corrections and affirms summary judgment ruling in favor of Wellmark
Nearly 40 years ago the Iowa Supreme Court held that “sex” does not mean the same as “gender” in an employment discrimination claim brought by a transgender plaintiff. It was the first, and last, time the Court addressed that issue until April 1 when the Court reached the same conclusion in read more
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in eight cases March 23 and 24
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in eight cases March 23 and 24. Seven other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument.
Following are brief summaries of the March 23-24 appeals. Go to On Brief’s “Cases in the Pipeline” page to read bri …
read moreIowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in nine cases Feb. 21, 22 and 23
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in nine appeals Feb. 21, 22 and 23. Three other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument, and three attorney-discipline cases will be submitted.
Following are brief summaries of the February cases to be argued. Go to On Brief’s “read more
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in case related to Covid-19 shut-down in special Feb. 21 evening session
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Feb. 21 in a special evening session in Des Moines to accommodate members of the public who are unable to attend daytime sessions of the Court.
Oral argument will be heard in an appeal by Wakonda Club against its insurer over whether the club’s business-interruption insur …
read moreIowa Supreme Court should overturn 2018 ruling protecting abortion choice, State argues in appeal
The Iowa Supreme Court should overturn its 2018 ruling that the Iowa Constitution protects the fundamental right of a woman to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy, the State of Iowa argues in an appeal to the court in a case to be argued …
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November 2023 Opinion Roundup
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in six cases during November 2023. You can read Rox Laird’s summary State v. Amisi at the link here. The remaining opinions from November are summarized below.
DOT’s delay in traffic stop violated trucker’s 4th Amendment rights, Iowa Supreme Court holds
There is no time limit on law-enforcement traffic stops before the line is crossed into a Fourth Amendment violation, the Iowa Supreme Court said in a Dec. 8 decision, and courts must thoroughly examine the record to determine where to draw that line in each case.
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in 8 cases Dec. 13 and 14
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in eight cases Dec. 13 and 14. Three other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Go to On Brief’s “Cases in the Pipeline” page to read briefs filed in these cases. Following are brief summaries of the December cases.
Iowa Court of Appeals December 2023 Published Opinion Roundup
The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication within the North Western Reporter. On December 1, 2023, the Court of Appeals selected three opinions for publication, summarized below.
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On Brief: Iowa’s Appellate Blog is devoted to appellate litigation with a focus on the Iowa Supreme Court, the Iowa Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.