A couple of teenage boys are out for some dirt-bike and ATV riding at rural retreat when one of the boys is fatally injured in a tragic shooting accident. The farmhouse on the retreat where the shooting occurred is insured by a homeowners’ policy and by a separate commercial general liability …
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The Iowa Supreme Court grapples with alleged jury confusion with instructions in a comparative fault case, but declines to order a new trial
Jurors in a Pottawattamie County medical malpractice trial submitted a question to the court during jury deliberations about the meaning of instructions given to them by the trial judge for apportioning fault to a settled party, but the judge did not commit a prejudicial error by failing to cla …
Iowa Supreme Court, citing the Iowa Constitution, limits warrantless searches of containers in impounded vehicles
The Iowa Supreme Court added another category of police searches where it invoked the Iowa Constitution to extend broader protection than the U.S. Supreme Court has granted under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
For drivers whose vehicles ar …
Divided Iowa Supreme Court keeps county attorney on the job, despite sexual harassment complaints
Van Buren County Attorney Abraham Watkins was removed from office by a District Court judge who ruled that Watkins “engaged in misconduct or maladministration by regularly committing sexual harassment” of female employees.
The court record reciting Watk …
Iowa Supreme Court splits, again, on a juvenile sentencing case
Iowa’s mandatory sex-offender registry for juveniles who commit a sex offense by force is the equivalent of criminal punishment, a divided Iowa Supreme Court ruled June 15, but it’s not unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.
Thus, the Court co …
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Iowa Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case at Harlan High School Sept. 24
The Iowa Supreme Court will travel to Harlan Tuesday to hear oral arguments in an appeal brought by the head of the State Alcoholic Beverages Division who argues the Division’s fired former comptroller is not protected by a whistleblower provision in state law.
Arguments in Halbur v. Larson will be heard by th …
Iowa Supreme Court upholds removal of Libertarian Party candidates from November ballot
Instead of choosing candidates for the U.S. House in June party primaries, three Libertarian Party congressional candidates were nominated at the party’s state convention by delegates elected at county conventions.
Six eligible voters in those three congressional districts filed formal objections with the Secretary of …
Iowa Court of Appeals August 2024 Published Opinion Roundup
The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication in the Northwestern Reporter. On Aug. 27, the Court of Appeals selected four opinions for publication. Following are summaries of those opinions.
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in eight cases Sept. 11 and 12
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in eight cases Sept. 11 and 12. Four other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Following are brief summaries of those cases. The Court will travel to Harlan Sept. 24 to hear arguments in one case. On Brief will preview that case closer to that date.
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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.