Opinion ID: 1617003
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did Trial Court's Instructions Improperly State the Iowa Law of Nuisance?

Text: Trial court's instructions required Appliance Center to prove defendants unreasonably interfered with the Center's use and enjoyment of its property. Honeywell and ITT objected, in essence, that this permitted the jury to judge unreasonableness in a vacuum; that the instructions made no attempt to define the unreasonableness concept. Because reasonableness under our nuisance decisions ordinarily is a question for the jury, see Bates v. Quality Ready-Mix Co., 261 Iowa 696, 704, 154 N.W.2d 852, 857 (1968), the court on retrial should provide more guidance for the jury. In Bates, 261 Iowa at 703, 154 N.W.2d at 857, we noted that reasonableness is a function of the manner in which, and the place where, defendant's business is conducted, and the circumstances under which defendant operates. Additional factors, enumerated in Patz v. Farmegg Products, Inc., 196 N.W.2d 557, 561 (Iowa 1972), include priority of location, character of the neighborhood, and the nature of the alleged wrong. The character and gravity of the resulting injury is, in fact, a major factor in determining reasonableness, Montgomery v. Bremer County Board of Supervisors, 299 N.W.2d 687, 697 (Iowa 1980). Balanced against the gravity of the wrong is the utility and meritoriousness of the defendant's conduct, Riter v. Keokuk Electro-Metals Co., 248 Iowa 710, 721, 82 N.W.2d 151, 158 (1957). See also Stockdale v. Agrico Chemical Co., 340 F.Supp. 244, 252-53 (N.D.Iowa 1972). Such relevant factors and others are more succinctly summarized in Restatement (Second) of Torts sections 826, 827 and 828 (1979). Another instruction given in this case stated that [o]ne who contributes to the creation or continuance of a nuisance may be liable. ITT objected that neither this instruction nor any other informed the jury that a defendant's conduct must be a substantial factor in bringing about the alleged harm. Upon retrial the instructions should incorporate this requirement. See Shannon v. Missouri Valley Limestone Co., 255 Iowa 528, 535, 122 N.W.2d 278, 282 (1963); Restatement (Second) of Torts § 834 and comment d. Both Honeywell and ITT objected because the court did not submit to the jury the issue whether Appliance Center was devoting its premises to an unusually sensitive use. The discussion in division I is relevant here. We hold defendants were entitled to have this question resolved by the jury. In view of our holding in division II, we do not examine defendants' issues concerning instructions relating to tortious interference with prospective business relations. We reverse and remand with instructions to set aside the judgment in favor of Appliance Center against Honeywell and ITT, and the judgment entered on ITT's cross-claim against Honeywell. Defendants shall be granted a new trial in conformance with this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.