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Iowa Civil Litigation Legal Questions

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10 legal [2, *]questions have been posted about civil litigation by real users in Iowa. Ask your question and dive into the knowledge of attorneys who handle your issue regularly. Similar topics to explore also include litigation, complex litigation, and complex and multi-district litigation. All topics and other states can be accessed in the dropdowns below.

Can I be sued for bed bugs without proof that I was the one that brought them into the building?

Answered 6 years and 7 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
The answer to "can I be sued" is always yes.  If in fact there is no proof that you brought the bedbugs into the building, then you should win the suit.
The answer to "can I be sued" is always yes.  If in fact there is no proof that you brought the bedbugs into the building, then you should win... Read Answer

Can someone sue an inmate/someone who is in jail in the state of Iowa? (Have a civil suit against an inmate?) What can that inmate do?

Answered 8 years and 2 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
i am not an Iowa attorney, and it is possible that the law is differernt there, but I have never heard of any rule that a person in jail cannot be sued (although it is difficult to serve them).
i am not an Iowa attorney, and it is possible that the law is differernt there, but I have never heard of any rule that a person in jail cannot be... Read Answer

Can i sue PepsiCo for negligence for nearly swallow a piece of plastic that was inside the can of pop

Answered 8 years and 6 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
You can sue, but you are unlikely to succeed.  A civil claim for negligence requires damages.  If a car runs a red light and hits you, you can sue it for your medical bills, lost salary while out of work, pain and suffering, etc.  If the same car runs the same red light but narrowly misses you, you have no civil claim because you have no damages.  This is unlike the criminal context, where the reckless driver has committed a crime whether he hits you or not.  In your case, it is very  unlikely that you will be awarded more than the price you paid for the can, as that is the only damage you have suffered.... Read Answer
You can sue, but you are unlikely to succeed.  A civil claim for negligence requires damages.  If a car runs a red light and hits you, you... Read Answer

What do I do if I'm being asked to be a witness for both the plaintiff and the defendant in a small claims court?

Answered 8 years and 8 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
You show up and tell the truth.
You show up and tell the truth.

Daughter assaulted on city bus. Statement from city bus organization was their driver "failed to act" my daughter is now toi frightened to ride

Answered 9 years and 2 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
Your daughter (or you on her behalf, if she is a minor) can sue the bus company, but because it may be owned by a municipality, there may be additional procedural hurdles and time constraints on the suit.  I don't know the exact requirements in Iowa, but you may have only a short time to file a notice of your claim before your suit is barred.  Additionally, there may be statutes which exempt the municpality from liability for negligence, so that you would have to show more than that (i.e. gross negligence or recklessness) to win.  I would recommend that you consult an Iowa attorney as soon as possible.... Read Answer
Your daughter (or you on her behalf, if she is a minor) can sue the bus company, but because it may be owned by a municipality, there may be... Read Answer

Can I file something on someone who didn't fully pay for something that we agreed on?

Answered 9 years and 2 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
You would sue this person for breach of contract and/or conversion of your property.  You also may be able to have the person arrested and charged with some form of theft/larceny.
You would sue this person for breach of contract and/or conversion of your property.  You also may be able to have the person arrested and... Read Answer

What is the statute of limitations on a civil suit for sexual assault?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
While I don't know the statute of limitations in Iowa, in most jurisdictions, the statute of limitations for a claim by a minor is tolled during the minority, so that I believe that your daughter would have a certain period of time to sue (not necessarily the entire limitations period) after she turns 18.... Read Answer
While I don't know the statute of limitations in Iowa, in most jurisdictions, the statute of limitations for a claim by a minor is tolled during the... Read Answer

my wife owns a car and house fully paid worth 200k can they sue her for my debts

Answered 11 years and 2 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
First of all, anyone can sue anyone for anything and it is possible that the association will sue your wife just to put pressure on the two of you, even if it doesn't think it has a great chance to win. In NY (and I assume that Iowa law is similar), spouses are not generally responsible for their spouses individual debts, but there is an exception for what are known as "necessaries."  Thus, your wife would not be responsible to pay if you breach a contract to buy concert tickets, but would be responsible to pay if you breach a contract to pay for emergency lifesaving surgery.  Condo dues, akin to rent, are a close call, and may depend on whether this was your residence (shelter can be considered a "necessary") or just vacant investment property. ... Read Answer
First of all, anyone can sue anyone for anything and it is possible that the association will sue your wife just to put pressure on the two of you,... Read Answer

How can i get my kids dad to pay his electric bill,that he was told to pay in court

Answered 12 years and 8 months ago by attorney Bruce Robins   |   1 Answer
Bruce Robins
If your kids' dad has intentionally violated a Court order, he can be held in contempt of court and forced, on pain of being jailed, to pay the bill.
If your kids' dad has intentionally violated a Court order, he can be held in contempt of court and forced, on pain of being jailed, to pay the bill.

If we want to sue a person whose husband sold us a car, that wasn''t what it was supposed to be and he is dead, can we sue her and the estate?

Answered 13 years and 10 months ago by Simon Wynn Johnson (Unclaimed Profile)   |   1 Answer
no photo
If the husband sold you the car, your claim would be against him personally.  Now that he has passed that claim would be against his estate.  From what you've said, I do not see how his spouse has any liability unless she also sold you the car.   Simon W. Johnson   swj@swjlawoffice.com Law Office of Simon W. Johnson Martindale, Avvo, Justia,L awGuru LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Serving Cleveland and Ohio, 44124 ... Read Answer
If the husband sold you the car, your claim would be against him personally.  Now that he has passed that claim would be against his estate.... Read Answer
Civil Litigation
Iowa

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