IA-COURTS

Medical malpractice appeal over expert witness qualification

Medical malpractice appeal over expert witness qualification

Jones v. Lindell - Medical Malpractice Expert Witness Qualification

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to strike a plaintiff's expert witness in a medical malpractice case. The court found the expert, a urologist, was not qualified to testify on the standard of care for an obstetrician-gynecologist under Iowa Code section 147.139. This ruling impacts how expert witnesses are qualified in medical malpractice suits in Iowa.

Arreola v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Application Dismissal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Jan De Jesus Coronel Arreola's application for postconviction relief and petition for writ of habeas corpus. The court found no error in the district court's decision.

Washington v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Bobby Ray Washington's application for postconviction relief. The court found that Washington's ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim was not preserved and that he failed to prove actual innocence.

Dormire v. State of Iowa - Sexual Abuse Conviction Affirmed

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's denial of postconviction relief for Caleb Dormire, who was convicted of sexual abuse in the second degree. The court found no merit in Dormire's arguments regarding ineffective trial counsel and newly discovered evidence.

Barnhardt v. State of Iowa - Appeal of Postconviction Relief Denial

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Ryan Barnhardt's application for postconviction relief concerning his convictions for sexual abuse. Barnhardt alleged ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, but the court found no breach of duty.

Northwest Bank & Trust Company v. Pershing Hill Lofts, LLC - Contract Claim

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a district court judgment in favor of a developer (Pershing Hill Lofts, LLC) against a bank (Northwest Bank & Trust Company) on a breach of contract claim. The court vacated a prior court of appeals decision and affirmed the district court's summary judgment ruling, finding the financing proposal was either an unenforceable agreement to agree or had terminated.

State of Iowa v. Rodney Dee Brown - Criminal Conviction Affirmance

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Rodney Dee Brown for attempting to entice a minor. The court found sufficient evidence and upheld the jury instructions, affirming the decisions of the lower courts. This ruling addresses challenges to the conviction based on jury instructions and evidence sufficiency.

Cody Lee Smith v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief

The Iowa Supreme Court vacated a court of appeals decision and reversed a district court judgment, remanding a postconviction relief case. The court found that the inmate's application for postconviction relief should not have been dismissed without notice and an opportunity to respond, even though the State moved for summary disposition.

Estate wrongful-death action appeal affirmed by Supreme Court

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a district court's dismissal of a wrongful-death action. The court ruled that the estate's claims were barred by the two-year statute of limitations, which was determined to begin at the time the injury was known, not at the date of death.