Opinion ID: 1954101
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Backgrounds Facts and Proceedings.

Text: Jack Evans signed a Dwelling Unit Rental Agreement on a single family residence in his name and apparently on behalf of Evans Furniture, Inc. Mastland, Inc., a real estate investment firm, was the lessor. Jack allowed his daughter Angela and her two small childrenNick and Mandyto live with him. At the time of the incident that precipitated this lawsuit, Nick was about two years and nine months old. About six months after the lease was signed, the home and most personal belongings were destroyed by fire. Jack was not home at the time. Angela had put Nick down for a nap. She heard him crying, investigated, and found him and his room on fire. An investigation of the fire's origin substantiated that Nick caused the fire by playing with a cigarette lighter in his crib. Nick was severely burned in the incident. Mastland later filed suit, naming Evans Furniture, Jack Evans, and Angela Evans as defendants. Mastland amended its petition several times. The last amendment contained four counts: (1) a claim imputing Nick's alleged negligence to Jack and Evans Furniture, (2) a claim alleging negligent supervision by Angela and imputing this alleged negligence to Jack and Evans Furniture, (3) a claim for application of res ipsa loquitur, and (4) a claim for breach of lease. Mastland requested damages for (1) destruction of the premises, (2) destruction of personal property, (3) loss of rent, and (4) funds expended to secure the destroyed premises. The defendants answered, asserting several affirmative defenses. Later, Jack and Evans Furniture moved for summary judgment, and their motion was denied. The case was then tried to the district court. Following trial, the district court dismissed Mastland's petition. In its findings the court stated that it could not find by a preponderance of the evidence that any negligence of Jack Evans or Angela Evans caused the fire. Mastland then filed a motion to enlarge the court's ruling under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 179(b). In deciding the motion, the court found that (1) Jack and Evans Furniture did not breach the lease by not delivering the premises in an unchanged condition, (2) Nick's negligence was not proved, and (3) res ipsa loquitur was not applicable in this case. Mastland then appealed to us raising several issues that we now proceed to consider.