Opinion ID: 1838059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The trial court was required to interpret section 613A.5, The Code. It provides, in pertinent part:

Text: Every person who claims damages from any [unit of government] for or on account of any wrongful death, loss or injury within the scope of section 613A.2 [governmental liability for tort imposed] shall commence an action therefor within three (3) months, unless said person shall cause to be presented to the governing body of the municipality within sixty (60) days after the alleged wrongful death, loss or injury a written notice stating the time, place, and circumstances thereof and the amount of compensation or other relief demanded.   . It is to be remembered Harris, the agent in this case, wrote down the time, place and circumstances of the accident and advised the defendant board of those facts. After trial of this case below we filed our opinion in Vermeer v. Sneller, 190 N. W.2d 389 (Iowa 1971). In Vermeer we held substantial compliance with the notice requirement could be accomplished by serving a notice of time, place and circumstances of the accident on an agent designated by the governmental subdivision involved. We acknowledged the same principle in Goodwin v. Bloomfield, 203 N.W. 2d 582 (Iowa 1973). III. Vermeer v. Sneller, supra, was a suit against a school district in which no issue was presented as to the existence of an agency. Appeal was taken from a ruling on a motion so we accepted the existence of the agency as alleged. Here issue is joined on the question and we are accordingly required to consider what is necessary for plaintiff to show its existence. At one time there was a question of whether such a showing could even be undertaken. See Heck v. City of Knoxville, 249 Iowa 602, 612, 88 N.W.2d 58, 64. However Vermeer v. Sneller resolved the question in favor of allowing such a showing. We have noted section 613A.5 authorizes subdivisions of government to insure risks contemplated in the chapter. Inherent in the authorization is the power to deal with the insurance industry and to designate someone in the insurance business to write the risk and to service the policy in the usual manner. Where those responsible for administering the governmental subdivision desire it, we think it is entirely appropriate for them to designate the same person to receive the notices required in 613A.5. Plaintiff claims Harris was so designated in this case and the offered evidence clearly supports the claim. For such a limited purpose it is unnecessary to satisfy formal requirements which commonly attend a governmental appointment. No governing or public function is involved in the designation. The governmental subdivision acts only to vitalize its statutory power to insure the risk. Authority for such a designation is included in this statutory authorization and no act of government is required beyond placing the business and entrusting such responsibility with the insurance agent. The authority is strengthened by the general powers given supervisors in section 332.3(6), The Code. IV. The trial court made no finding of agency because it held the evidence offered to establish it was inadmissible. We have held the evidence should have been received. Normally a holding excluded evidence should have been admitted requires us to remand the case for retrial, at least on the issue for which such evidence was offered. In an appeal in a law action we sit only as a court of review and make no findings of fact. See 5B C. J.S. Appeal and Error § 1939, pages 475-482, 5 Am.Jur.2d Appeal and Error, section 973, pages 400-401. However where all the facts are clearly established it is appropriate for us to order final judgment even where we find error. Thorp Credit, Inc. v. Barr, 200 N.W.2d 535, 537 and authorities. We must determine whether the fact of agency can be said to be clearly established. We believe the testimony of defendant board members acknowledging Harris to be their agent takes that issue out of the case because it was never contradicted. A special question is presented where as here a party while testifying admits a fact in issue. See McCormick on Evidence, section 266, pages 636-639. Stearns v. Chicago R.I. & P.R. Co., 166 Iowa 566, 578, 148 N.W. 128, 133. Our present question is greatly simplified by the fact defendant offered no further evidence contradicting the testimony admitting the agency. Under these circumstances we believe the record establishes the limited agency. The 60 day notice requirement was satisfied. V. Defendant urges the trial court should be affirmed because it was wrong in failing to find plaintiff was contributorily negligent. The burden of proof on this issue was on defendant. Section 619.7, The Code. Generally the question of contributory negligence and proximate cause are for the [finder of fact]; it is only in the exceptional case these issues may be decided as matters of law. Rule 344(f) (10), R.C.P. Even where the facts are not in dispute or contradicted, if reasonable minds might draw different inferences from them, a jury question is engendered. Rule 344(f) (17), R.C.P. We have observed that in the absence of an admission by the adverse party, it is not often that a party having the burden of proof upon an issue establishes it as a matter of law. Hedges v. Conder, 166 N.W.2d 844 (Iowa 1969). Anderson v. Lyon County, 206 N.W.2d 719, 723 (Iowa 1973). Under the facts as so carefully outlined by the trial court this is not one of the exceptional cases where defendant carried this burden of proof as a matter of law. We hold the trial court was right in all its findings except as we have indicated herein. In all other respects its findings are affirmed. We think it fair to acknowledge counsel and the trial court, in this exceptionally well tried case, proceeded without benefit of our previously cited later decisions. The judgment of the trial court is Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions judgment be entered for plaintiff against the defendant in the sum of $15,248.65.