The Iowa Supreme Court issued opinions in eleven cases in February 2026, At the links immediately below, you can read On Brief’s analysis of the following opinions:
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The State Auditor has broad access under Iowa law to state and local records in conducting audits, including otherwise confidential information, but the Auditor’s access does not extend to records shielded by attorney-client privilege, the Iowa Supreme Court held in an April 17 decision.
State Auditor Rob Sand served a subpoena on the City…
The Iowa Supreme Court reversed a $20.5 million Polk County jury verdict against homebuilder D.R. Horton for negligence arising from a subcontractor’s employee being briefly buried under several feet of dirt while working in a trench. The Court held that under Iowa law general contractors ordinarily do not owe a duty of care to the…
The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication in the Northwestern Reporter. In February, the Court of Appeals selected six opinions for publication. Following are summaries of those opinions.
Courtney Cortez Chestnut v. Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, Sex Offender Registry, No. 24-1330
Opinion date: Dec. 17, 2025…
Christopher Hidlebaugh accepted a financial challenge in a plea deal with the State: purchase a home to avoid going to prison on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender. The deal fell apart, however, when Hidlebaugh was unable to qualify for financing to purchase a home, and he was sentenced to 15…
A Guthrie County woman made statements to her son that he interpreted as serious threats of violence against a Department of Health and Human Services child protective worker and a judge six days ahead of a hearing regarding the Department’s removal of her minor children from her care. His concerns were reported to law enforcement,…
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in ten cases in January 2026. At the links immediately below, you can read On Brief’s analysis of the following opinions:
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The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in eight cases in December 2025. At the links immediately below, you can read On Brief’s analysis of the following opinions:
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The penalty for violating Iowa’s law that bars the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of 21 is $500. The penalty for a second violation is $1,500 and a 30-day license suspension if it occurs within two years of the first. That is the law even if the second violation occurs within…
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in eleven cases in November 2025. At the following link, you can read On Brief’s analysis of In re Davenport Hotel Building Collapse, No. 24-0727, concerning whether statutory qualified immunity protections apply to the City of Davenport and city employees in the context of common law negligence claims…