Browse recent court opinions from the Iowa Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Contractor Breached Agreement by Refusing to Deliver Asphalt at Contracted Price
CMT Highway, LLC, an Iowa Limited Company v. Logan Contractors Supply, Inc., an Iowa Corporation, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute...
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Police in Excessive Force Case
Matthew Lewis Hunter v. City of Des Moines, Iowa; and Des Moines Police Bargaining Unit, Jane Doe No. 1, John Doe No. 2, John Doe No. 3, John Doe No. 4, and John Doe No. 5, decided by Iowa Supreme Cou...
Prior Injury Not Scheduled: Second Injury Fund Not Liable for Additional Benefits
Sarah Kingsbury v. Second Injury Fund of Iowa, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Sarah Kingsbury, sought review of a decision by the ...
Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Wind Farm Permit Denial for Lack of Findings
Worthwhile Wind, LLC v. Worth County Board of Supervisors, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. Worthwhile Wind, LLC challenged the Worth County Board ...
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Auditor's Broad Investigative Powers
City of Davenport v. Office of Auditor of State of Iowa, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The City of Davenport challenged the Iowa Auditor's autho...
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for School District in Defamation Case
Dr. Paul R. Gausman v. Sioux City Community School District, Daniel D. Greenwell, Jan George, Taylor Goodvin, and Bob Michaelson, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defenda...
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Implied Consent Law Against Fourth Amendment Challenge
State of Iowa v. Dillon Michael Heiller, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Iowa Supreme Court reviewed a defendant's conviction for operating wh...
Homeowner's Breach of Contract and Fraud Claims Against Builder Dismissed
Timothy Kono v. D.R. Horton, Inc. and D.R. Horton-Iowa, LLC d/b/a Classic Builders, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on April 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. Timothy Kono sued D.R. Horton ...
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Medical Malpractice Verdict for Defendants
Gloria Ann Shontz, as administrator of the Estate of Shirley Kay Gomez, Andrea Marie Bell, Kristina Christian Lincoln, and Kim Marie Kerr v. Mercy Medical Center-Clinton, Inc., and Amareshwar Chiruvel...
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Verdict in Truck Accident Case
Matthew McQuillen and Elizabeth McQuillen, individually and as limited co-guardians and co-conservators of Margaret G. McQuillen v. West Side Transport, Inc. and Clifford Charles Takes and Wabash Nati...
Iowa Court of Appeals Affirms Domestic Abuse Conviction of Andrew Jay Porter
This case involves Andrew Jay Porter, who was convicted of domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury. Porter appealed his conviction, arguing that the district court made several errors. Specifical...
Iowa Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Stephen K. Allison's License for Two Years Due to Client Neglect and Failure to Cooperate with Disciplinary Board
This case involves attorney Stephen K. Allison, who was found to have violated several rules of professional conduct. The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board filed a complaint against Allis...
Iowa Court Affirms OWI Conviction, Upholding Traffic Stop Based on Erratic Driving
This case involves Dillon Michael Heiller's appeal of his conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), first offense. Heiller was stopped by a police officer who observed him driving er...
Iowa Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Valerie A. Cramer's License for Six Months Due to Client Neglect and Failure to Cooperate with Disciplinary Board
This case involves attorney Valerie A. Cramer, who was found to have violated several rules of professional conduct. The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board filed a complaint against her, a...
Iowa Court of Appeals Reverses Summary Judgment, Allowing Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Claims to Proceed to Trial
Jenna Sondag sued her former employer, Orthopaedic Specialists, P.C., and her supervisor, Dr. John Hoffman, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation under the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA). Sondag cl...
Iowa Court Affirms Termination of Mother's Parental Rights Due to Unaddressed Substance Abuse and Child's Need for Permanency
This case involves a mother's appeal from a juvenile court order terminating her parental rights to her minor child, L.P. The mother argued that the State failed to prove the statutory grounds for ter...
Iowa Court of Appeals Upholds OWI Conviction, Finding Probable Cause for Blood Draw Warrant
This case involves Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh, who was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), third offense. Hidlebaugh appealed his conviction, arguing that the district court s...
Bank's Foreclosure and Lien Priority Affirmed Against Van Mills and Other Creditors
This case involves Green Belt Bank & Trust (the Bank) seeking to foreclose on a mortgage and security interests against Stephanie Marie Van Mill, Mashon Michael Van Mill, and Van Mill Farms, LLC (coll...
Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Assault and Battery Verdict Against Doctor and Hospital, Upholds Dismissal of Individual Discrimination Claims
This case involves Linda Jones, a former employee of Broadlawns Medical Center, who sued her supervisor, Dr. Larry Lindell, and Broadlawns for various claims including discrimination, harassment, and ...
Medical Malpractice Case Against Hospital, Nurse, and Doctor Reversed and Remanded for Trial by Iowa Supreme Court
This case involves the Estate of Jill Cataldo, represented by Zachary Mead, suing RCHP-Ottumwa, LLC (Ottumwa Regional Health Center), nurse Matthew Jay Breeding, and Dr. Elvin McCarl for medical malpr...
Iowa Court of Appeals Affirms Domestic Abuse Conviction of Rodney Dee Brown
This case involves Rodney Dee Brown, who was convicted of domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury. Brown appealed his conviction, arguing that the district court made several errors. Specifically...
Iowa Court of Appeals Affirms OWI Conviction, Upholding Probable Cause for Blood Draw Warrant
This case involves Cody Lee Smith's appeal of his conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), second offense. Smith argued that the district court should have suppressed evidence obtai...
Iowa Supreme Court Rules Marijuana Smell Alone Provides Probable Cause for Vehicle Search
The State of Iowa appealed a district court's decision to suppress evidence found during a search of Alicia Elaine Fredericksen's vehicle. The search was conducted after a police officer pulled Freder...
Bank Wins Lawsuit Against LLC and Guarantors for Loan Default
This case involves a dispute over a loan agreement between Northwest Bank & Trust Company and Pershing Hill Lofts, LLC, along with its guarantors John M. Carroll and John G. Ruhl. The bank sued the LL...
Iowa Court of Appeals Upholds 30-Day Liquor License Suspension for Beecher Store
This case involves Beecher Store, Inc., a business that sells alcohol, challenging a decision by the Iowa Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverages Division. The Division had suspended Beecher Store's...
Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Order for New Trial in Murder Conviction
This case involves Sherral Jermaine Tolbert, Jr., who was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The State of Iowa appealed the district court's decision to grant Tolbert a ...