Online video provider TikTok does business with millions of American users in all 50 states, including Iowans who have downloaded the company’s app hundreds of thousands of times and who agree to its terms of service. Still, the company argues, it should not have to defend itself against a lawsuit filed in state court by
On Brief: Iowa's Appellate Blog
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Former Federal Home Loan Bank executive waited too long to file defamation suit, Iowa Supreme Court holds
By Rox Laird
A plaintiff suing former coworkers at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for defamation waited too long to file suit in Polk County District Court because she failed to act on information she knew or should have known that could have formed the basis for a defamation claim before the statute of limitations…
Iowa Supreme Court: Iowa courts lack jurisdiction to hear suit against Indiana trucking company
By Rox Laird
Does a foreign corporation consent to the jurisdiction of Iowa’s courts when it registers with the Secretary of State to do business in this state, appoints an agent in Iowa for service of process, and is served with notice of a lawsuit through its Iowa agent?
That is the question put to the Iowa Supreme…
October 2025 Opinion Roundup
By Matt McGuire
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in four cases in October 2025. At the following link, you can read On Brief’s analysis of State v. Manning, concerning whether an officer’s body camera capture of a video being played for the officer qualifies as admissible evidence, by Rox Laird. The remaining opinions from October are…
Divided Iowa Supreme Court reaffirms 2024 decision barring minors’ closed-circuit testimony against accused
By Rox Laird
The Iowa Supreme Court in a decision issued Dec. 23 reaffirmed its 2024 ruling that allowing testimony by minors in criminal trials via one-way closed-circuit video violates defendants’ right to confront their accusers under the Iowa Constitution.
Citing its 2024 holding in State v. White, the Court reversed the conviction of Lynn Lindaman of…
December 2025 Iowa Court of Appeals published opinion roundup
By Rox Laird
The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication in the Northwestern Reporter. In December, the Court of Appeals selected three opinions for publication. Following are summaries of those opinions.
Stephen Dierickx v. DreamDirt Farms and Ranch Real Estate LLC dba DreamDirt Auctions, Tom Bradley, Jason Smith, Harry Gatzionis and Vail Holdings LLC,…
State Auditor may use in-house counsel in appeal on access to Davenport city records
By Rox Laird
The Iowa State Auditor is a constitutional officer elected by the voters of Iowa to conduct audits of State and local government agencies. The Iowa Attorney General is a constitutional officer elected by the voters of Iowa to provide legal representation to State officers, including the Auditor. What happens when these two independently elected constitutional…
Lawsuit by victims of Davenport apartment collapse not barred by Iowa qualified immunity statute, Iowa Supreme Court holds
By Rox Laird
Iowa’s statute that provides qualified immunity for municipal employees does not apply to common law negligence claims against the City of Davenport and city employees by families of residents who died in the 2023 collapse of an apartment building and other residents who were injured and left homeless, the Iowa Supreme Court said in a…
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in 10 cases Nov. 12 and 13
By Rox Laird
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in 10 cases Nov. 12 and 13. One other case will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Following are brief summaries of those cases. [Go to On Brief’s “Cases in the Pipeline” page to read the briefs filed in these cases.]
Montague v.…
Iowa Supreme Court to hear oral argument in Jefferson Nov. 4 on landlord-tenant dispute
By Rox Laird
Although renters may not want landlords entering their homes without good reason, landlords are allowed by law to reasonably enter rental properties for such things as making repairs and showing apartments to prospective renters. The question is when do reasonable entries become unreasonable?
For Alex Butter and Sydney Stodola, that line was crossed after their…