Opinion ID: 2176825
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Finality of Order from Which Appeal was Taken.

Text: The appellees have moved to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the order of the district court from which the appeal was taken is not a final judgment as contemplated by Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 1(a). This contention is based on the decision in Rubendall v. Brogan Construction Co., 253 Iowa 652, 657, 113 N.W.2d 265, 268 (1962). In the Rubendall case, we determined, on facts clearly distinguishable from the present case, that an order of the district court reviewing a decision of the industrial commissioner and remanding the case back to the commissioner for additional findings was interlocutory. We need not decide whether we continue to adhere to the views expressed in Rubendall because there has been an intervening comprehensive revision of applicable statutory law by reason of the enactment of the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act, effective in 1975. It is now provided in Iowa Code section 17A.19(8) (1983) that on judicial review of agency action, the court may affirm the agency action or remand to the agency for further proceedings. The court shall reverse, modify, or grant any other appropriate relief from the agency action.... Section 17A.20 provides: An aggrieved or adversely affected party to the judicial review proceeding may obtain a review of any final judgment of the district court under this chapter by appeal to the supreme court. The appeal shall be taken as in other civil cases, although the appeal may be taken regardless of the amount involved. We interpret the quoted language from section 17A.19(8) as providing what disposition may be made in a final judgment of the district court. The statute contemplates that a final judgment may provide for remand to the agency for further proceedings. A judgment so providing is nonetheless a final judgment for purposes of appeal under section 17A.20 and Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 1(a). A contrary holding could in some instances deprive a party aggrieved by an erroneous order of remand of an effective right of appellate review. There may, of course, be instances where the district court is authorized to make an interlocutory order remanding the case to the agency for further proceedings. See section 17A.19(7). If this is done, however, we believe that it is incumbent upon the court to note that the remand is of a limited nature and that the court is retaining jurisdiction. Clearly, this was not the situation in the present case. We conclude that the present appeal is from a final judgment. Appellees' motion to dismiss the appeal is overruled.