Opinion ID: 1678768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Effect of Small Claims Ruling.

Text: The district court ruled that Guy Gabriel was not entitled to statutory restoration because he had previously brought an action in small claims against Van Gorp. Gabriel sought the return of purchase money from Van Gorp. Gabriel's case was dismissed from small claims court for lack of evidence. Neither issue nor claim preclusion applies to this case. The small claims action was not brought under section 714.16 and was brought by Gabriel, not the State of Iowa. Because of the informal nature of small claims court, we cannot precisely determine under what theory the action was decided, although we assume it was a breach of warranty theory. This case falls squarely within Village Supply Co. v. Iowa Fund, Inc., 312 N.W.2d 551, 554 (Iowa 1981). In Village Supply, we held that an adjudication in small claims court did not have a preclusive effect on a subsequent suit in district court. Id. We find Gabriel is entitled to restoration of monies in accordance with Iowa Code section 714.16.