Justice McDonald Archives - Nyemaster Goode On Brief

Legislative act barring pro se briefs does not cross constitutional line, Iowa Supreme Court rules

Legislation enacted by the Iowa General Assembly that prohibits defendants who are represented by legal counsel from filing appellate briefs on their own behalf does not violate the Iowa Constitution’s separation of legislative and judicial powers, the Iowa Supreme Court has narrowly held.

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Man deserves day in court to avoid losing his home over $220 delinquent tax bill, Iowa Supreme Court rules

by Rox Laird | 1.27

A Jan. 22 ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court means a Waterloo man may not lose his home for failure to pay a $220 property tax bill.

Cornell Hoosman’s home was sold at tax sale for failure to pay $220 in property taxes to Black Hawk County, and he was served with a removal order after a district judge entered a default j …

Iowa Supreme Court sides with first-in-time tenant in conflict between pet allergy and emotional support animal

by Matt McGuire | 8.04

The Iowa Supreme Court held that a tenant with a dog allergy may maintain civil claims for damages against their landlord arising from the landlord’s waiver of their no-pets policy for a neighboring tenant’s emotional support animal. In doing so, the Court emphasized the narrowness of its holding, characterizing its analy …

Iowa Supreme Court stands by its ‘continuing storm’ doctrine in slip-and-fall suits

by Rox Laird | 6.12

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” the song says, but when the snow ends, the Iowa Supreme Court says exposure to legal liability begins.

The Court in a decision handed down June 5 rejected an argument that it abandon its 67-year …

Property owners’ right to control drainage ends at property’s edge, Iowa Supreme Court holds

Owners of farmland whose surface water flows naturally onto neighboring properties have no control over how the downstream neighbors manage the water once it arrives on their land, provided the neighbors do no harm to upstream land owners, the Iowa Supreme Court held in a June 6 ruling.

Prosecutor cannot be assessed a monetary penalty for misconduct, Iowa Supreme Court holds

A prosecutor cannot be monetarily sanctioned for misconduct in a criminal case, the Iowa Supreme Court held in a unanimous decision in response to what the Court said appeared to be an unprecedented sanction ordered by a district court. The decision in Christensen v. Iowa District Court for Story County was handed down May 30.

Iowa Court of Appeals April 2025 Published Opinion Roundup

The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication in the Northwestern Reporter. In April, the Court of Appeals selected six opinions for publication. Following are summaries of those opinions.

Bitcoin ATM operator entitled to return of money seized by law enforcement, Iowa Supreme Court holds

Two Iowans who deposited cash into bitcoin automated teller machines, as they say they were instructed to do by scammers, will not receive their money back as a result of two Iowa Supreme Court rulings saying the owner of the ATM had the better argument that it was legally entitled to the cash seized by Linn County authorit …

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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.

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