Opinion ID: 1820187
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Disposition of Issues on Remand.

Text: Our holding in Division I of this opinion requires remand to the district court for a determination of the amount of said penalty and attorney fees to be assessed for plaintiff's violation of the Iowa Consumer Credit Code. Determination of those issues by the district court shall be in accordance with our holding in Public Finance Co. v. Van Blaricome, 324 N.W.2d 716, 726 (Iowa 1982) with respect to amount of penalty and apportionment of costs and attorney fees. Penalties awarded to a consumer may be set off against the consumer's obligation to the creditor. Attorney fee awards are to be made directly to the attorney for the consumer and may not be set off; the $250 award for defense of the Audubon County action is the property of the defendants which may be set off. Section 537.5201(8) also provides for recovery by the defendants of their costs of action. We direct that the costs of appeal shall be divided equally between the plaintiff and the defendants. The award of attorney fees to be made by the district court following remand shall include a determination of a reasonable fee for processing the present appeal which, as in the case of the attorney fees in the district court, may be allocated between the plaintiff's claim and the counterclaim. The case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED.