Opinion ID: 1299095
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Is Our Review in Law or Equity?

Text: No factual dispute looms large in this controversy. For the most part, our determination is controlled by issues of law, thus we are not bound by trial court's legal conclusions. See Chown v. USM Corp., 297 N.W.2d 218, 220 (Iowa 1980). Nonetheless, Sac City contends the action was tried as a law action, thus seeking to insulate trial court's fact-findings from de novo review and to support the relief it obtained in the decree. Citizens asserts the case was tried in equity and should be reviewed de novo. After Citizen's Petition For Declaratory Judgment In Equity was filed, Sac City successfully moved to transfer the cause from equity to law, and demanded a jury trial. Later Citizens, citing Freese Leasing, Inc. v. Union Trust and Savings Bank, 253 N.W.2d 921 (Iowa 1977), moved to transfer the case back to equity. This motion was not ruled on. The case was tried to the court in June 1980. Trial court did not rule on evidentiary objections and later entered its decree. Ordinarily, whether a declaratory judgment action is a legal or equitable proceeding is determined by the pleadings, the relief sought, and the nature of the case. Eldridge v. Herman, 291 N.W.2d 319, 321 (Iowa 1980); Freese Leasing, 253 N.W.2d at 925; see Iowa R.Civ.P. 267. We have consistently held, however, that we will consider and review a case on appeal in the manner it was treated below. See Life Investors Insurance Co. of America v. Heline, 285 N.W.2d 31, 35 (Iowa 1979); Brammer v. Allied Mutual Insurance Co., 182 N.W.2d 169, 172 (Iowa 1970); Bjork v. Dairyland Insurance Co., 174 N.W.2d 379, 382 (Iowa 1970). Where there is uncertainty, a litmus test we have applied is whether evidentiary objections were ruled on by trial court. See Sille v. Shaffer, 297 N.W.2d 379, 380-81 (Iowa 1980); Bjork, 174 N.W.2d at 382. A decree is generally considered a final order of an equity court, Black's Law Dictionary 369-70 (5th ed. 1979), although a decree would be included within the broad definition of a judgment found in Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 219. At trial the evidentiary objections were not ruled on and no protest was raised. There is no indication Sac City sought to implement its demand for jury trial. None of the trial motions ordinarily made in a law action appear in the transcript. Trial court's ruling was labeled a decree. We conclude this action was tried in equity below, and thus should be reviewed de novo in this court.