Opinion ID: 1722015
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Heading: Is Iowa Code Section 6B.18 Violative of Due Process?

Text: Iowa Code section 6B.18, Notice of appraisementappeal of award, provides: After the appraisement of damages has been delivered to the sheriff by the compensation commission, the sheriff shall give written notice, by ordinary mail, to the condemner and the condemnee of the date on which the appraisement of damages was made, the amount of the appraisement, and that any interested party may, within thirty days from the date of mailing the notice of the appraisement of damages, appeal to the district court. The sheriff shall endorse the date of mailing of notice upon the original appraisement of damages. At the time of appeal, the appellant shall give written notice that the appeal has been taken to the adverse party, or the adverse party's agent or attorney, lienholders, and the sheriff. The Norgards argue section 6B.18 violates due process because there is no requirement that the notice state the date of mailing, the date that triggers the appeal time. The State contends the parties may easily ascertain the date of mailing either by observing the postmark date on the envelope containing the notice or, failing this, by inquiring at the sheriff's office. Where violations of basic constitutional safeguards are raised, the appellate court makes its own evaluation of the totality of the circumstances. State v. Cullison, 227 N.W.2d 121, 126 (Iowa 1975). Statutes are presumed to be constitutional. Iowa Code § 4.4. A challenger must show beyond a reasonable doubt that a statute violates the constitution and must negate every reasonable basis that might support the statute. Johnston v. Veterans' Plaza Auth., 535 N.W.2d 131, 132 (Iowa 1995). Due process requires notice reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections. Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314, 70 S.Ct. 652, 657, 94 L.Ed. 865, 873 (1950). Section 6B.18 provides an opportunity for condemnees to present their objections to the appraisement and informs them of the time in which such objections must be made. We note that the date of mailing of the notice of appraisement and time for appeal may be ascertained by observing the postmark date on the envelope containing it. We do not believe section 6B.18 is violative of constitutional due process requirements.