Opinion ID: 2100160
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Heading: Standards for Interpreting Settlement Agreements.

Text: Settlement agreements are essentially contracts, and general principles of contract law apply to their creation and interpretation. City of Dubuque v. Iowa Trust, 587 N.W.2d 216, 221 (Iowa 1998); Fees v. Mut. Fire & Auto. Ins. Co., 490 N.W.2d 55, 58 (Iowa 1992). The intent of the parties controls the interpretation issues. Magina v. Bartlett, 582 N.W.2d 159, 163 (Iowa 1998). In order to be bound, the contracting parties must manifest their mutual assent to the terms sought to be enforced. Kristerin Dev. Co. v. Granson Inv., 394 N.W.2d 325, 331 (Iowa 1986).