Iowa Case Commentaries

Iowa Adopts the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine for Environmental Civil Penalties—But Requires Defendant-Specific Minimum Contacts for Personal Jurisdiction

Date: Jul 2, 2026

Iowa Adopts the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine for Environmental Civil Penalties—But Requires Defendant-Specific Minimum Contacts for Personal Jurisdiction Introduction In State of Iowa, ex...

Iowa Extends Turner’s Reasonableness Framework to Article I, Section 7 Prison-Speech Claims (and Rejects “Rational-Basis-by-Common-Sense”)

Date: Jul 2, 2026

Iowa Extends Turner’s Reasonableness Framework to Article I, Section 7 Prison-Speech Claims (and Rejects “Rational-Basis-by-Common-Sense”) Case: Leonard Gregory, Dee J. Radeke, Sean O'Geary, Jerry...

Amendment 1A Strict Scrutiny Requires the State to Justify Lifetime Firearm Bans for Misdemeanor Domestic-Abuse Convictions (As Applied)

Date: Jul 2, 2026

Amendment 1A Strict Scrutiny Requires the State to Justify Lifetime Firearm Bans for Misdemeanor Domestic-Abuse Convictions (As Applied) I. Introduction Case: State of Iowa v. Eric Martin Schadl...

Contempt Requires Personal Show-Cause Notice to Each Proposed Contemnor and a Reasonable Time to Defend

Date: Jun 20, 2026

Contempt Requires Personal Show-Cause Notice to Each Proposed Contemnor and a Reasonable Time to Defend I. Introduction In Eagle Rise Development, LLC, Troy Scott Wilbur and Alexander Scott Wilbur v....

“Attempted Purchase” Human Trafficking Under Iowa Code § 710A.1(4)(b) (2024) Requires an Actual Victim or Actual Trafficker (Pre-2025 Sting Limitation)

Date: Jun 20, 2026

“Attempted Purchase” Human Trafficking Under Iowa Code § 710A.1(4)(b) (2024) Requires an Actual Victim or Actual Trafficker (Pre-2025 Sting Limitation) I. Introduction Case: State of Iowa v. Kevin...

Iowa Supreme Court: Force Majeure Suspends Default/Cure Mechanics, and a Contract Breach Alone Cannot Support Tortious Interference with a Third-Party Contract

Date: Jun 15, 2026

Iowa Supreme Court: Force Majeure Suspends Default/Cure Mechanics, and a Contract Breach Alone Cannot Support Tortious Interference with a Third-Party Contract 1. Introduction In 5th and Walnut...

“Driving” as a Term of Art Under Iowa Code ch. 673, and the High Evidentiary Bar for the Recklessness Exception

Date: Jun 15, 2026

“Driving” as a Term of Art Under Iowa Code ch. 673, and the High Evidentiary Bar for the Recklessness Exception Case: Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana (Supreme Court of Iowa, June 12, 2026) Disposition:...

Law-of-the-Case Bars New Statutory Theories and Certificate-of-Merit Attacks in Successive Interlocutory Appeals

Date: Jun 15, 2026

Law-of-the-Case Bars New Statutory Theories and Certificate-of-Merit Attacks in Successive Interlocutory Appeals Introduction Charlene Jorgensen and Michael Jorgensen v. Adam B. Smith, M.D., Adam B....

Child Endangerment After Cole: Risk of Death to One Child Can Establish Substantial Emotional-Harm Risk to Siblings Present

Date: Jun 15, 2026

Child Endangerment After Cole: Risk of Death to One Child Can Establish Substantial Emotional-Harm Risk to Siblings Present Case: State of Iowa v. Victoria Linda Nichole Gibbs (Iowa Sup. Ct. June 12,...

State v. Mahana: Iowa’s Felon-in-Possession Ban Upheld Under Bruen/Rahimi and (As Applied) Strict Scrutiny Under Iowa Const. art. I, § 1A

Date: Jun 15, 2026

State v. Mahana: Iowa’s Felon-in-Possession Ban Upheld Under Bruen/Rahimi and (As Applied) Strict Scrutiny Under Iowa Const. art. I, § 1A Case: State of Iowa v. Austin Dean Mahana Court: Supreme...

UPMIFA “Impracticability” for Race-Restricted Scholarships After SFFA and Donor-Intent–Consistent Modification

Date: Jun 8, 2026

UPMIFA “Impracticability” for Race-Restricted Scholarships After SFFA and Donor-Intent–Consistent Modification I. Introduction In re Ezra L. Totton Scholarship (Iowa June 5, 2026) addresses how Iowa...

Iowa Tax Statutes Construed by Ordinary Meaning; Unattached Commercial Storage Tanks Are Nontaxable “Equipment” Under Iowa Code § 427A.1(1)(d)

Date: Jun 8, 2026

Iowa Tax Statutes Construed by Ordinary Meaning; Unattached Commercial Storage Tanks Are Nontaxable “Equipment” Under Iowa Code § 427A.1(1)(d) 1. Introduction In Chickasaw County Board of Review v....

“Related Series of Violations” Caps Iowa Code § 479B.21(1) Civil Penalties at $200,000 When Noncompliance Stems from a Single Permitting Failure

Date: Jun 8, 2026

“Related Series of Violations” Caps Iowa Code § 479B.21(1) Civil Penalties at $200,000 When Noncompliance Stems from a Single Permitting Failure I. Introduction In Enterprise Products Operating, LLC...

Retroactive Enforcement of Iowa Code § 147.140: A Certificate of Merit Must Be Signed Under Oath or Penalty of Perjury and Noncompliance Requires Dismissal With Prejudice

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Retroactive Enforcement of Iowa Code § 147.140: A Certificate of Merit Must Be Signed Under Oath or Penalty of Perjury and Noncompliance Requires Dismissal With Prejudice 1. Introduction In Michelle...

Implicit Rejection Preserves Error in Workers’ Compensation Appeals; Employers Not Bound by Their Treating Physician’s Causation Opinion

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Implicit Rejection Preserves Error in Workers’ Compensation Appeals; Employers Not Bound by Their Treating Physician’s Causation Opinion Case: Jerry Hayes v. Christian Retirement Homes, Inc., d/b/a...

Wyldes v. State: Postconviction “New Science” Challenges to Firearm Toolmark and Shoeprint Evidence Require Proof of a Probably Different Verdict

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Wyldes v. State: Postconviction “New Science” Challenges to Firearm Toolmark and Shoeprint Evidence Require Proof of a Probably Different Verdict 1. Introduction In Donald Lee Wyldes, Jr. v. State of...

Iowa Savings Statute Applies After Voluntary Dismissal Triggered by Post-Miller Certificate-of-Merit Defect Absent Negligence

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Iowa Savings Statute Applies After Voluntary Dismissal Triggered by Post-Miller Certificate-of-Merit Defect Absent Negligence 1. Introduction Case: Michael Trask v. Amar F. Ahmed, M.D.; Sandro...

Habitual Offender Enhancement Under Iowa Code § 902.8 Depends on Two Prior Convictions—Hollins Sequencing Limited to Same‑Day Convictions

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Habitual Offender Enhancement Under Iowa Code § 902.8 Depends on Two Prior Convictions—Hollins Sequencing Limited to Same‑Day Convictions 1. Introduction State of Iowa v. Richard Allen Sharples...

Iowa: Certificate of Merit Not Required for Informed-Consent Claims Under § 147.140

Date: Jun 2, 2026

Iowa: Certificate of Merit Not Required for Informed-Consent Claims Under Iowa Code § 147.140 Case: Margaret Lofgren, both individually and as administrator of the Estate of Louden P. Lofgren v....

Rarick v. Smidt: No “Substantial Compliance” Under Iowa Code § 147.140 Without a Jurat or the Words “Penalty of Perjury,” and No Untimely Cure Absent § 147.140(4)

Date: May 23, 2026

No “Substantial Compliance” Under Iowa Code § 147.140 Without a Jurat or the Words “Penalty of Perjury,” and No Untimely Cure Absent § 147.140(4) Case: Teresa Marie Rarick and Richard Dee Rarick v....