Opinion ID: 2687559
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: The State contends the evidence was insufficient to support the jury findings that it was liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of Iowa Code section 70A.28(2). We review a district court’s ruling on a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict for errors at law. Iowa R. App. P. 6.907; Lee v. State, 815 N.W.2d 731, 736 (Iowa 2012). “Our role is to decide whether there was sufficient evidence to justify submitting the case to the jury when viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Van Sickle Constr. Co. v. Wachovia Commercial Mortg., Inc., 783 N.W.2d 684, 687 (Iowa 2010). To justify submitting the case to the jury, substantial evidence must support each element of the plaintiff’s claim. Id. We will find evidence is substantial if “reasonable minds would accept the evidence as adequate to reach the same findings.” Doe v. Cent. Iowa Health Sys., 766 N.W.2d 787, 790 (Iowa 2009). The State also contends the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim was barred by either Iowa Code section 85.20 or Iowa Code section 669.14(4). Likewise, the State contends the district court could not award damages for reputational harm or “frontpay” under section 70A.28(5). “The district court’s interpretation of a statute is 30 reviewed for correction of errors at law.” L.F. Noll Inc. v. Eviglo, 816 N.W.2d 391, 393 (Iowa 2012). Additionally, the State challenges the district court’s finding that Smith suffered loss of his job as a result of statutorily protected whistleblowing. We review equitable matters, including the district court’s award of damages, de novo. State ex rel. Miller v. Vertrue, Inc., 834 N.W.2d 12, 43 (Iowa 2013) (considering de novo the district court’s denial of civil penalties in an equity case); Orr v. Mortvedt, 735 N.W.2d 610, 613–15 (Iowa 2007) (reviewing de novo the district court’s refusal to award damages in a case tried in equity); Pflepsen v. Univ. of Osteopathic Med., 519 N.W.2d 390, 391–92 (Iowa 1994) (conducting a de novo review of an equity case and reversing the district court’s award of damages). We give weight to the district court’s findings of fact, especially the credibility of witnesses, but we are not bound by them. Iowa R. App. P. 6.904(3)(g); Green v. Wilderness Ridge, L.L.C., 777 N.W.2d 699, 702 (Iowa 2010).15