We have written detailed reviews of Iowa law impacting agricultural producers and landowners. Access these reviews by clicking on the tiles below. You can also review Iowa cases on a particular subject by searching our list of Iowa case law reviews at the bottom of this page.
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On January 27, 2022, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed a jury award in an eminent domain proceeding. In 2019, the Iowa Supreme Court held that the condemnation of farmland for the Dakota Access pipeline was constitutional. Because the landowner did not show that the district court abused its discretion when it excluded certain evidence allegedly impacting the value of the property after the taking, the court affirmed there were no grounds for a new trial.
On January 12, 2022, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed that a group of landowners did not follow the required statutory appeal route to challenge a drainage assessment. After a county drainage district assessed the cost of a failed annexation against landowners in the district, the landowners filed a petition for declaratory judgment. Because the landowners did not file an appeal as required under Iowa Code section 468.83(1), the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal of the landowners’ petition for failure to state a claim.
On December 3, 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed that the assignee of foreclosed agricultural property did not meet the statutory requirements to redeem the farmland. A debtor may redeem property by paying the sale price plus costs and interest within a one-year period of the sale. See Iowa Code § 628.13. Because the assignee did not pay the full price within the redemption period, the Supreme Court affirmed that the redemption was untimely.
On December 15, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals released an opinion involving a dispute over the sale of a railroad-tie-removal business. Without several key terms included in the contract, the court was left to determine the parties’ intent. Because the Seller did not provide his “best efforts” to assist the Buyer retain and expand the business, the Seller breached his consulting obligations. Therefore, the Court of Appeals affirmed that the Buyer was not obligated to pay the Seller the outstanding consulting fees.
On October 6, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed an order from the district court, dividing a 50-acre parcel between two brothers pursuant to a partition in kind action. Robert Tolle sought a partition in kind of the parcel he owned as a tenant in common with his brother, Rickey. Instead of adopting either brothers’ division proposals, the district court accepted the appointed referee’s plan. The Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that the district court did not err when considering “what would be most equitable and practicable.”
On October 6, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Zachary Tew’s workers’ compensation claim. Tew filed a petition for worker’s compensation benefits claiming that he was injured during his employment as an egg stacker. The Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Tew’s request finding that he did not present credible testimony that his employment caused his injury.
In this case, the Iowa Court of Appeals reminds us that “contracts mean what they say.” On October 6, 2021, the Court of Appeals reversed an order from the district court finding that a hotel owner breached a contract with a construction company. Because the contractor failed to follow the required steps to change the scope of the project, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s order, finding that the hotel owner did not breach the contract.
In this case, farm borrowers once again challenged court orders surrounding their farm foreclosure. In November 2017, the district court granted summary judgment and a foreclosure decree in favor of the bank. On February 3, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals denied the farm borrowers’ request to set aside the sheriff’s sale of their property because any “irregularities” in the sale were due to the plaintiffs’ own actions.
It’s that time of the year to again think about Iowa’s farm lease auto-renewal law. Tenants or landlords who do not wish to continue a farm lease into 2022 should be aware that their 2021 farm lease will automatically renew under the same terms and conditions if neither party takes action by or before September 1.
On August 10, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit considered the constitutionality of Iowa’s 2012 “Agricultural Production Facility Fraud” law (2012 law), sometimes called an “ag-gag” law.
On August 4, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals released an opinion affirming a district court’s finding that a private zoo was a public nuisance.
In this study conducted in conjunction with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Kristine Tidgren and Wendong Zhang analyze Iowa farmland data, including estimated basis and fair market value, to estimate the impact of the proposed tax provisions in the American Families Plan on Iowa farmland owners during lifetime and at death and gift.
We have been seeing renewed interest and activity associated with a market for carbon credits, in particular credits created through new land management and conservation practices farmers implement on their land. Last week, we participated in a webinar providing information on this emerging topic.
On August 18, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals determined the priority of three creditors’ claims against a real estate developer. After the developer defaulted on several mortgages, the bank initiated this foreclosure action claiming to have priority over the mechanic’s liens filed by two subcontractors on the property. Because the subcontractors began work on the properties before the bank recorded the mortgages, the Court of Appeals affirmed that the bank had a junior interest under Iowa Code § 572.18(1).