Source: http://www.atra.org/state/iowa/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 00:25:32+00:00

Document:
Appeal Bond Reform: S.F. 2306 (2004); Amended Iowa Code § 625A.9.
Limits the amount a defendant can be required to pay to secure the right to appeal to $100 million.
Joint and Several Liability Reform: HF 693 (1997): Iowa Code Ann. § 668.4.
Bars application of the rule of joint and several liability in the recovery of all noneconomic damages, and economic damages, where a defendant is found to be less than 50% at fault.
Prejudgment Interest Rate Reform: HF 693 (1997); Amended Iowa Code § 535.3.
Sets the prejudgment interest rates at the U.S. Treasury Rate plus 2%.
Prejudgment Interest Rate Reform: SF 482 (1987).
Establishes a medical liability statute of limitations for minors under age 8 until the minor’s 10th birthday.
Noneconomic Damages Reform: HF 2525 (2000); Iowa Code § 613.20.
Prohibits a motorist, passenger or pedestrian from collecting noneconomic damages for injuries sustained in an automobile crash caused during the commission of a felony.
Collateral Source Rule Reform: SF 482 (1987).
Permits the admissibility of evidence of collateral source payments.
Provides that a state shall not enter into a contingency fee contract with a private attorney unless the Attorney General makes a written determination prior to entering into the contract, that contingency fee representation is both cost-effective and in the public interest. Limits the aggregate contingency fee a private attorney can receive to 25% of any recovery up to $10 million, 20% of any recovery between $10-$15 million, 15% of any recovery between $15-$20 million, 10% of any portion between $20-$25 million, and 5% of any recovery that exceeds $25 million. In no event shall the aggregate contingency fee of any recovery exceed $50 million. Allows the caps to be waived if approved by the majority of the state Executive Council (Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of Agriculture). Requires the contract, payments made under the contract, and the attorney general’s written determinations to be posted on the attorney general’s website.
Establishes a 15‑year statute of repose for product liability lawsuits not involving fraud, concealment, latent diseases caused by harmful materials, or specified products.
Punitive Damages Reform: SF 482 (1987).
Punitive Damages Reform: SB 2265 (1986): Iowa Code Ann. § 668A.1.
Requires a plaintiff to show that a defendant acted with “willful and wanton disregard for the rights and safety of another.” (In 1987 the evidence standard was elevated to “clear, convincing, and satisfactory” evidence.) Requires 75% or more of all punitive damages awards to be paid to the State Civil Reparations Trust Fund. The statute directing 75% of punitive damages awards to a civil reparation trust fund did not violate the equal protection or due process clauses of the State or Federal Constitutions. Shepherd Components, Inc. v. Brice Petrides-Donohue & Associates, Inc., 473 N.W.2d 612 (Iowa 1991).
Requires plaintiffs to file and disclose all asbestos trust claims before proceeding to trial in any asbestos action, provide all parties with all trust claims materials connected to the plaintiff’s exposure to asbestos, and if the plaintiff’s claim is based on exposure to asbestos through another individual, plaintiff must produce all trust claims materials submitted by that individual to any asbestos trusts. The bill allows a defendant to file a motion requesting a stay of the proceedings if the defendant has information that could support the filing of additional trust claims by the plaintiff. If the court determines that there is sufficient basis, the court shall stay the asbestos action until the plaintiff files the asbestos trust claim and produces all related trust claims materials. The bill also has medical criteria to set aside the cases of the non-sick for both asbestos and silica actions, would abolish consolidation of dissimilar cases, and would abolish liability for component parts or replacement parts made by third-parties.
Provides that future damage awards must reflect present value.

References: § 625
 § 668
 § 535
 § 613
 § 668
 v.