Court Opinion

ID: 9670216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:16:47.960367+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:03.090043
License: Public Domain

McCORMICK, Justice
(dissenting).
I find no authority to support the court’s construction of section 562.7(3), and the court cites none. The court’s holding is contrary to what appears to be the uniform holding of this and other courts regarding statutes which provide for the giving of notice by mail. Those cases hold that when a statute provides for service by mail, without expressly requiring more, service is accomplished by mailing, regardless of whether the notice is actually received by the addressee.
This rule of construction was applied in Ross v. Hawkeye Insurance Co., 83 Iowa 586, 50 N.W. 47 (1891) (service under a statute providing for service of notice by registered letter addressed to the insured at his post office address was complete upon mailing the letter so addressed and registered), sec. app. 93 Iowa 222, 61 N.W. 852 (1895), and Holbrook v. Mill Owners Mutual Insurance Co., 86 Iowa 255, 53 N.W. 229 (1892). It has also been applied in numerous cases from other jurisdictions. See Phoenix Metals Corp. v. Roth, 79 Ariz. 106, 284 P.2d 645 (1955); Douglas v. Janis, 43 Cal.App.3d 931, 118 Cal.Rptr. 280 (1974); Ford v. Genereux, 104 Colo. 17, 87 P.2d 749 (1939); Hartford Trust Co. v. West Hartford, 84 Conn. 646, 81 A. 244 (1911); Hartley v. Vitiello, 113 Conn. 74, 154 A. 255 (1931) (service complete upon mailing under nonresident motorist statute which did not require filing of return receipt); Wasden v. Foell, 63 Idaho 83, 117 P.2d 465 (1941); Benson v. Benson, 291 S.W.2d 27 (Ky.1956); MacLean v. Reynolds, 175 Minn. 112, 220 N.W. 435 (1928); Johnson & Dealaman, Inc. v. Wm. F. Hegarty, Inc., 93 N.J.Super. 14, 224 A.2d 510 (1966); Hurley v. Olcott, 198 N.Y. 132, 91 N.E. 270 (1910); Davis v. Mosley, 230 N.C. 645, 55 S.E.2d 329 (1949); McCoy v. Bureau of Employment Compensation, 81 Ohio App. 158, 77 N.E.2d 76 (1947); Stroh v. State Accident Insurance Fund, 261 Or. 117, 492 P.2d 472 (1972); Commonwealth v. Coldren, 140 Pa.Super. 321, 14 A.2d 340 (1940); Madsen v. Preferred Painting Contractors, 233 N.W.2d 575 (S.D.1975); Johnson Service Co. v. Climate Control Contractors, Inc., 478 S.W.2d 643 (Tex.Civ.App.1972); Carroll v. Hutchinson, 172 Va. 43, 200 S.E. 644 (1939) (service *12complete upon mailing under nonresident motorist statute which did not require filing of return receipt); Schroedel Corp. v. State Highway Commission, 88 Wis.2d 424, 157 N.W.2d 562 (1968). See also 58 Am.Jur.2d Notice § 27 at 508 (1971) (“Where a statute authorizes service by registered mail, it has been held that service is effective when the notice is properly addressed, registered, and mailed . . .”); 66 C.J.S. Notice § 18, at 664 (1950) (“By force of statute or by provision of contract, service may be effective when the notice is properly mailed, regardless of its receipt by the addressee; in such cases the risk of miscarriage or failure to deliver is on the addressee.”).
The statute provides for giving notice of termination “[b]y either party sending to the other at his last known address before September 1, a notice by restricted certified mail.” No dispute exists that such notice was sent in the present case. Under the authorities, the notice was effective even though not actually received.
Section 562.7(3) differs from statutes providing for mailed notice where actual receipt is required. Those statutes include language manifesting an intent that the notice be received before it is effective. Provisions requiring proof of service by filing of a return receipt are an example. See § 321.505, The Code; Emery Transportation Co. v. Baker, 254 Iowa 744, 119 N.W.2d 272 (1963). Statutes requiring proof of receipt are another. See § 515.81, The Code; Farmers Insurance Group v. Merryweather, 214 N.W.2d 184 (Iowa 1974). Provisions that mailing is merely prima facie evidence of receipt are still another example. See Gooden v. Camden Fire Insurance Association, 11 Mich.App. 695, 162 N.W.2d 147 (1968).
In accordance with what seems to be unanimity of authority in this and other jurisdictions under statutes analogous to section 562.7(3), I would hold that service of notice of termination of farm tenancy is effective upon sending the notice by restricted certified mail to the other party at his or her last known address.