Opinion ID: 2002356
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motion to Adjudicate Law Points.

Text: In the district court review proceeding, the department applied for a rule of civil procedure 105 ruling that it was not required to incorporate statutory safeguards into its rules promulgated for credit union share-draft accounts, 295 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 7, and small employee groups, 295 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 5. District court overruled the motion, finding it was improper in a judicial review of agency action, would adversely affect its ability to rule on remaining issues, and the department had shown no prejudice. On appeal, the department contends a rule 105 motion will lie during review of agency rule-making, the issues were purely legal, and no showing of prejudice was necessary. Ruling on an application for adjudication of law points is not discretionary. District court  must on application of either party rule on legal points raised in a pleading, if the points go to the case in its entirety or a material part thereof. Iowa R.Civ.P. 105 (emphasis added). Prejudice to the applicant does not bear on the issue whether to rule on the application. Generally, our rules of civil procedure are applicable to proceedings for judicial review of agency action except to the extent that they are inconsistent with IAPA or with the rules contained in Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, division XVI. Iowa R.Civ.P. 331. In Young Plumbing and Heating Co. v. Iowa Natural Resources Council, 276 N.W.2d 377, 381 (Iowa 1979), we held summary judgment motions are inappropriate in judicial review of contested cases. We noted judicial review of agency action is appellate in nature, and summary judgment procedures are inconsistent with the limited scope of review under Iowa Code chapter 17A. Id. A motion for summary judgment requires determination of the existence of disputed fact issues, whereas judicial review of agency action normally is based on the record made before the agency. Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Inc. v. Public Service Commission, 79 Wis.2d 161, 170, 255 N.W.2d 917, 923 (1977); see Howell v. Harden, 129 Ga.App. 200, 201, 198 S.E.2d 890, 891 (1973), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 231 Ga. 594, 203 S.E.2d 206 (1974); Markham v. Swails, 29 N.C.App. 205, 208, 223 S.E.2d 920, 922, cert. denied and appeal dismissed, 290 N.C. 309, 225 S.E.2d 829, cert. denied, 290 N.C. 551, 226 S.E.2d 510, cert. denied, 429 U.S. 940, 97 S.Ct. 356, 50 L.Ed.2d 310 (1976). Agency rule-making is not a contested case under the IAPA. Schmitt, 263 N.W.2d at 743. District court was free to hear and consider such additional evidence as it deemed appropriate. Iowa Code § 17A.19(7). An application for adjudication of law points contemplates determination of solely legal issues, see M & W Farm Service Co. v. Callison, 285 N.W.2d 271, 274 (Iowa 1979); Rasmussen v. Nebraska National Life Insurance Co., 170 N.W.2d 370, 373-74 (Iowa 1969), whereas a summary judgment motion entails determination whether there are issues of material fact, and application of law to the undisputed facts. See Frohwein v. Haesemeyer, 264 N.W.2d 792, 796 (Iowa 1978), quoted in Meylor v. Brown, 281 N.W.2d 632, 634 (Iowa 1979); Iowa R.Civ.P. 237(c). District court's role, however, remains appellate in nature. Young Plumbing and Heating Co., 276 N.W.2d at 377; see Community Action Research Group, 275 N.W.2d at 219 (scope of review comparable to that in contested case). Iowa courts may affirm, remand for further proceedings, or reverse, modify, or grant other appropriate relief based on the agency action. Iowa Code § 17A.19(8). The IAPA thus provides a comprehensive, integrated procedure for review of action, which an Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 105 motion frequently would short-circuit. Such a motion is therefore inapplicable and inconsistent. See Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Inc., 79 Wis.2d at 170, 255 N.W.2d at 923; Markham, 29 N.C.App. at 208, 223 S.E.2d at 922. We hold district court properly refused to address the department's motion. In summary, we hold the association's challenge to the department's 1979 real property loan rules is mooted by interim rescission. We dismiss the appeal insofar as it pertains to these rules. The association failed to show standing to challenge the department's rules pertaining to small employee groups, branch offices, and insolvency. As to these three chapters, we reverse district court's holding on standing, vacate its invalidation of the rules, and dismiss. District court's invalidation of the department's share-draft rules, 295 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 7, is affirmed. APPEAL DISMISSED IN PART, REVERSED AND VACATED IN PART, AFFIRMED IN PART.