Smith v. Smith, et al., No. 3-565/13-0063, 2013 Iowa App. LEXIS 924 (Iowa Ct. App. Aug. 21, 2013)

(plaintiff, tenant under crop-share lease with father, sued brothers and a corporation of one brother when parents conveyed two-thirds of leased land to one brother via contract and other third to same brother via gift; plaintiff claimed contract unconscionable, that contract constituted conversion of the land due to inadequate consideration, that brothers tortiously interfered with plaintiff’s business and inheritance, and intentionally or negligently inflicted emotional distress; trial court granted summary judgment for defendants; plaintiff’s unconscionability claim barred because plaintiff not party to contract and parents testified as to satisfaction with contract; conversion claim fails for same reason; no wrongful interference with plaintiff’s possessory interest and contract price irrelevant; tortious interference with contract claim fails due to lack of proof that defendants entered into purchase contract to buy land with purpose of interfering with plaintiff’s lease agreement; claim for tortious interference with bequest fails because due to lack of evidence that parents intended to leave farmland to plaintiff or that parents incompetent to amend will; no intentional infliction of emotional distress due to lack of evidence of invasion of legally protected interest of plaintiff by willful and malicious conduct).