Louis W. Schultz

The case involved a medical malpractice suit by Sally and Wilbur Hantsbarger against podiatrist Paul Coffin, alleging negligence in surgery performed in 1988. The plaintiffs designated expert witnesses before the statutory deadline under Iowa Code section 668.11 but initially omitted details on qualifications and the purpose for each expert. The trial court barred the experts' testimony for noncompliance and granted summary judgment to the defendant. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed, holding that the statute requires only substantial compliance and that good cause existed to permit the testimony given the minimal delay, lack of prejudice to the defendant, and plaintiffs' overall compliance with discovery.

proceduretorts & liability

This case involves the dissolution of the marriage between Rhonda Lynn Gulsvig and Ronald Gerald Gulsvig, who had one child together prior to separating. The district court granted joint custody with primary physical care to Rhonda, set child support at $47 per week, established a visitation schedule, and declined to change the child's surname from Acosta (as listed on the birth certificate) to Gulsvig. On appeal, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the dissolution and child support amount under the guidelines but modified the visitation schedule to provide the father with additional weekends, holidays, and summer time, finding the expanded schedule better served the child's interests. The court also upheld the surname determination, consistent with the trial court's ruling.

family law

This case involved a claim by Richard Miller that the Sioux Gateway Fire Department violated Iowa's employment discrimination law by discharging him from his airport firefighter position due to his diabetes. The district court ruled in Miller's favor, finding he was regarded as disabled and ordering reinstatement along with damages. On appeal, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed, holding that the nature of the firefighter occupation exempts the Department from liability under Iowa Code section 601A.6. The court reasoned that the inherently dangerous duties require immediate high-level physical fitness and performance from all firefighters, making reasonable accommodation impossible without compromising safety standards.

labor & employmentcivil rights

The case concerned whether the doctrine of claim preclusion barred a tort action for intentional interference with a bequest when the plaintiffs had already succeeded in a prior will contest that invalidated a will on grounds of undue influence and lack of capacity. The Iowa Supreme Court held that the tort claims were not precluded and could proceed separately from the probate proceedings. The court reasoned that the two actions involve distinct remedies, with the tort suit allowing recovery of damages such as emotional distress and litigation costs not available in probate, and that the underlying facts do not make them the same claim for preclusion purposes. The court also addressed but did not resolve certain procedural issues like real-party-in-interest status and statute of limitations.

propertyproceduretorts & liability

In Stanfield v. Polk County, property taxpayers sued Polk County to enjoin it from making payments under a lease-purchase agreement for the Prairie Meadows horse racing track, which had been financed through industrial revenue bonds issued under Iowa Code chapter 419; the plaintiffs argued that the county's actions violated state law and the Iowa Constitution's prohibition on lending public credit. The district court certified a class of all ad valorem property taxpayers in Polk County, rejected the county's statute of limitations and laches defenses, but granted summary judgment to the county on the merits, finding no illegality. On appeal, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal, holding that summary judgment should have been granted on the statute of limitations defense because the claims were time-barred. The court reviewed the undisputed facts surrounding the bond issuance, lease agreement amendments, and payments, concluding that no genuine issues of material fact existed on the timeliness issue.

taxespropertyprocedurebusiness & regulatory

The case involved Laurie Mallone Lee, a tenured teacher at the Iowa School for the Deaf, whose employment contract was terminated by Superintendent C. Joseph Giangreco amid declining enrollment without initial stated reasons or adequate pretermination process. Lee sued under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 claiming violations of her procedural and substantive due process rights as a state employee with a protected property interest in continued employment, along with gender discrimination. A jury found for Lee on the due process claims, and the district court denied the defendant's post-verdict motions. On appeal, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed, concluding there was substantial evidence that the termination lacked required procedures, objective criteria, and good cause, and that the damages award was supported by evidence of lost wages and impaired future earning capacity.

labor & employmentcivil rightsprocedure