Opinion ID: 1590463
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Does a genuine issue of material fact exist regarding the recovery of punitive damages against Davis?

Text: The County is immune for any claim for punitive damages. Iowa Code § 670.4(5) (2001). Davis, however, is liable for punitive damages in the performance of his duty upon showing actual malice or willful, wanton, and reckless misconduct. Id. § 670.12. For purposes of Iowa Code section 670.12, [a]ctual malice is characterized by such factors as personal spite, hatred, or ill will. Gibson v. ITT Hartford Ins. Co., 621 N.W.2d 388, 396 (Iowa 2001). The willful, wanton, and reckless misconduct standard under section 670.12 is the same as the willful and wanton disregard for the rights of another standard found in section 668A.1(1)( a ). Vlotho v. Hardin County, 509 N.W.2d 350, 356 (Iowa 1993). Therefore, willful, wanton, and reckless misconduct under section 670.12 occurs when an actor has intentionally done an act of an unreasonable character in disregard of a known or obvious risk that was so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow, and which thus is usually accompanied by a conscious indifference to the consequences. Id. ; accord Fell v. Kewanee Farm Equip. Co., 457 N.W.2d 911, 919 (Iowa 1990). In viewing the record in the light most favorable to Kiesau, she has failed to show the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Davis's conduct constituted actual malice. Under this same standard, however, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Davis's conduct met the willful, wanton, and reckless misconduct standard under section 670.12. Davis received numerous complaints regarding Bantz from the highest-ranking officers in his department. On more than one occasion, these officers recommended Davis should begin termination procedures against Bantz. Furness criticized Bantz for his lack of honesty, integrity, and good judgment. On more than one occasion, Bantz's superiors warned Davis that Bantz was a lawsuit waiting to happen. Despite these complaints, Davis failed to take any meaningful disciplinary action against Bantz. A fact finder could find Davis intentionally failed to take any action against Bantz because Bantz was his son-in-law. A fact finder could also find Bantz posed a known or obvious risk to third parties that was so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow from Davis's failure to take any action against Bantz. A fact finder could further find Davis's conduct as a conscious indifference to the consequences of his failure to act. For these reasons, we must reverse the district court's decision granting Davis's motion for summary judgment on the issue of punitive damages.