Reed v. Anderson - Real Estate Contract Dispute

Iowa Court of Appeals

Filed April 1st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's declaratory judgment in Chad Michael Reed v. Dean Edward Anderson (Case No. 24-1340), ruling that $115,200 is due on a 2016 real estate purchase agreement. The court upheld the calculation of the original purchase price less earnest money already paid. Anderson's claims regarding interest and tax reimbursement were dismissed for failure to preserve the issues.

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What changed

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's interpretation of a real estate purchase agreement entered in 2016, finding $115,200 is the amount due (original purchase price less earnest money paid). Dean Anderson's appeal challenging the district court's declaratory judgment was denied. His claims regarding interest and tax reimbursement were not preserved for appellate review because they were raised for the first time in a post-trial motion under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2).\n\nLegal professionals should note this ruling reinforces that parties must raise all claims and arguments during trial proceedings to preserve them for appeal. Failure to raise an issue before or during trial, or in a motion under Iowa Rule 1.904(2), results in forfeiture of that issue on appeal. This is a final appellate ruling with no further action required from the parties.

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Main Content

Case No. 24-1340

Chad Michael Reed

v.
Dean Edward Anderson

Appellee

Chad Michael Reed

Appellant

Dean Edward Anderson

Attorney for the Appellee

Matthew J. Adam, Nicholas Petersen, and Ryan C. Shellady (until withdrawal)

Attorney for the Appellant

Steven E. Ort

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:

24-1340

Date Published:

Apr 01, 2026

Summary

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Jefferson County, The Honorable Crystal S. Cronk, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Ahlers and Langholz, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, J. (6 pages)

Dean Anderson appeals from a declaratory judgment ruling interpreting a prior district court order to clarify the amount due on a real-estate purchase agreement Anderson entered in 2016. OPINION HOLDS: We agree with the district court that the amount due on the contract is $115,200, which is the original purchase price less the earnest money already paid. Anderson failed to preserve his claims relating to interest and tax reimbursement because he raised them for the first time in an Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2) motion.