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23 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Negligence Claims in Prison Officer Death

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling in a case where the widow of a corrections officer killed during a 2021 prison escape sued fellow officers for gross negligence. The court affirmed some aspects while reversing others, allowing portions of the lawsuit to proceed.

•Iowa Supreme Court issued mixed ruling allowing some gross negligence claims to proceed against corrections officers
•Sara Montague sued 25 fellow officers over husband's 2021 death during prison escape attempt
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State Court
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Dismisses Defamation Suit on Statute of Limitations

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by former information security executive Linda Betz against four former colleagues, ruling that her claims were barred by the three-year statute of limitations. The decision reverses a court of appeals ruling and ends Betz's second lawsuit following her unsuccessful discrimination case.

•Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed dismissal of defamation claims filed more than three years after alleged statements were made
•Former information security executive Linda Betz lost second lawsuit following unsuccessful discrimination case
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State Court
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Grants District Courts Power to Reform Easement Deeds

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that district courts have the authority to reform faulty easement deeds to align with the original intent of property grantors and parties' actual agreements. The decision in *Fink v. Lawson* reversed lower court rulings and establishes new precedent for resolving property access disputes.

•Iowa Supreme Court grants district courts authority to reform defective easement deeds to match original party intent
•Unanimous decision reverses lower courts in waterfront access dispute between Fink and Lawson families
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Vacates Criminal Convictions Over Court Cost Dispute

The Iowa Supreme Court vacated convictions and remanded cases involving Ronald Richard Pagliai, ruling on whether courts can assess costs in dismissed criminal cases through plea agreements. The decision, filed January 9, 2026, addresses judicial authority in criminal case dispositions.

•Iowa Supreme Court vacated criminal convictions and dispositional orders over court cost assessment dispute
•Case involved plea agreement requiring defendant to pay costs in dismissed criminal cases
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State Court
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Landlord Victory in Rental Showing Trespass Case

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a lower court ruling limiting damages for tenants who sued their property management companies for excessive rental unit showings. The court found only four instances of common law trespass and awarded damages equivalent to three-and-a-half days' rent.

•Iowa Supreme Court unanimously affirmed lower court ruling limiting tenant damages in trespass case against property managers
•Court found only four instances of common law trespass despite tenants' claims of excessive rental unit showings
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Splits on Sexual Abuse Case, Evidence Suppression

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling in State of Iowa v. Lynn Melvin Lindaman, partially affirming a second-degree sexual abuse conviction while addressing disputes over suppressed confession evidence. The case involved allegations that Lindaman sexually abused his granddaughter.

•Iowa Supreme Court partially affirmed Lynn Lindaman's second-degree sexual abuse conviction involving his granddaughter
•State cross-appealed district court's suppression of Lindaman's confession evidence
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Railroad Culvert Case, Backs Drainage District

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously reversed lower court decisions and ruled that a joint drainage district can require Iowa Northern Railway Company to install a culvert through a railroad embankment. The high court vacated a Court of Appeals decision that had protected the railroad from the infrastructure modification requirement.

•Iowa Supreme Court unanimously reversed lower court decisions protecting Iowa Northern Railway from culvert installation requirements
•Joint drainage district representing Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties can require railroad to install 5.5-foot diameter steel pipe culvert
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Foreign Corporation Jurisdiction Requirements

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling December 19, 2025, addressing whether foreign corporations must consent to personal jurisdiction when registering to do business in Iowa. The decision came in response to a certified question from a federal court handling a class action lawsuit against CRST transportation companies.

•Iowa Supreme Court issued unanimous ruling on foreign corporation jurisdiction requirements
•Federal court certified question about whether business registration equals consent to jurisdiction
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Attorney Sanctions in Divorce Case

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a decision in *In re the Marriage of Matthew Kraus and Molly Kraus*, addressing whether dismissal of a petition to modify a divorce decree constitutes an appropriate sanction under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.413 for allegedly frivolous filings.

•Iowa Supreme Court addressed whether dismissal is appropriate sanction under Rule 1.413
•Court of Appeals decision partially affirmed, with case remanded for further proceedings
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Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Rules on Spousal Support in High-Asset Divorce Case

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling in the divorce case between Jason Owen and Alison Brinker, affirming parts of an appeals court decision while vacating others. The case addresses complex spousal support issues when high-income couples divorce after building successful businesses together.

•Iowa Supreme Court affirmed parts of appeals court ruling while vacating others in Owen v. Brinker divorce case
•Case involved complex spousal support issues when high-income couple divorced after building successful business
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