2025 Archive | Court of Appeals Court Opinions

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Samantha Gronewald, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Heard at oral argument by Chicchelly, P.J., and Buller and Langholz, JJ.  Opinion by Buller, J.  (6 pages)

            An employer appeals an adverse judicial-review ruling following proceedings before the workers’ compensation commissioner.  OPINION HOLDS: Because there is substantial evidence to support the commissioner's rulings on both the rate-of-pay and penalty-benefits issues, we affirm. 

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Harrison County, Eric J. Nelson, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Greer and Buller, JJ.  Opinion by Greer, J.  (7 pages)

            Rochelle Straight appeals from the decree dissolving her marriage to Duane Straight.  Rochelle challenges the district court’s property division, arguing it failed to equitably divide the assets and debts of the marriage.  OPINION HOLDS: On review, we affirm the district court’s decree.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Bremer County, Peter B. Newell, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Badding and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (7 pages)

            The mother appeals the termination of her parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) (2025).  She contests the grounds for termination, argues termination is not in the child’s best interests, and contends that the permissive exception should apply given her strong bond with the child.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marshall County, Adria Kester, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Chicchelly, P.J., and Buller and Langholz, JJ.  Opinion by Langholz, J.  (5 pages)

            Tyler Patterson appeals his sentence for first-degree theft.  He argues that the district court failed to adequately explain its reasons for his sentence and abused its discretion by selecting a prison sentence rather than a suspended sentence with probation.  OPINION HOLDS: Because the district court adequately explained its sentencing reasons and did not abuse its considerable sentencing discretion in selecting the sentence, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, Michelle Jungers, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Badding and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (6 pages)

            The father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his two children, K.D. and W.D., pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.8(3)(b) (2025).  He argues the juvenile court improperly burden shifted and that termination is not in the children’s best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: Because the juvenile court did not shift the burden and termination is in the children’s best interests, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Calhoun County, Joseph B. McCarville, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Greer, P.J., Schumacher, J., and Vogel, S.J.  Opinion by Vogel, S.J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals from a permanency review order placing his son with out-of-state relatives, anticipating the establishment of a guardianship.  OPINION HOLDS: Upon our review, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Brent Pattison, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Greer, P.J., Ahlers, J., and Doyle, S.J.  Opinion by Doyle, S.J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to a child born in 2024.  OPINION HOLDS: The grounds for termination under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2025) have been established by clear and convincing evidence, and termination is in the child’s best interests.  The father fails to show that termination will be detrimental to the child based on the closeness of the parent-child bond.  The evidence does not support a finding that the result of the proceedings would be different if termination was delayed for six months, and a guardianship is not in the child’s best interests.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wapello County, Richelle Mahaffey, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Ahlers, P.J., and Badding and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (8 pages)

            The mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to A.B., pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (l) (2025).  She contests the grounds for termination and argues termination is not in A.B.’s best interests given their strong bond and the mother’s recent progress.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm.   

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Erik I. Howe, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Ahlers, P.J., Badding, J., and Mullins, S.J.  Opinion by Mullins, S.J.  (11 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her two daughters under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (h).  She challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the grounds for termination and contends termination is not in the girls’ best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: On our de novo review, we find that the mother remained unable to meet all her children’s needs at the time of termination.  We also agree with the juvenile court’s conclusion that termination is in the best interests of these girls.  We therefore affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Webster County, Joseph McCarville, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered without oral argument by Badding, P.J., Sandy, J., and Bower, S.J.  Opinion by Bower, S.J.  (7 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights, challenging the statutory grounds authorizing termination, claiming the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services failed to make reasonable efforts toward reunification, arguing a permissive exception should be applied, and maintaining her right to counsel was violated due to the “current statutory court-appointed hourly rate.”  OPINION HOLDS: Upon our review, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Carrie K. Bryner, Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Badding and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (7 pages)

            A mother and a father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: Because A.R. and J.R. cannot be safely returned to their parents’ care at the time of the termination trial, and because termination is in the children’s best interests, we affirm the termination of both parents’ parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) (2025).

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Lynn Poschner, Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered without oral argument by Greer, P.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Greer, P.J.  (16 pages)

            A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to one child.  OPINION HOLDS: On our de novo review of the record, we affirm termination as to both parents.