If you were the victim of sexual abuse or assault, either as a child or an adult, you have the right to bring a civil lawsuit against both your abuser and any school, company, or organization that might be liable for the abuse.
In this post, we will provide a brief overview of sexual abuse lawsuits in Iowa. We will explain the applicable statute of limitations for sex abuse civil cases in Iowa and the potential settlement value of these cases.
Below are example settlement amounts and jury payouts in Iowa medical malpractice and other personal injury cases.
Two years ago, a North Iowa-based nursing home was hit with a stunning $6 million verdict in a lawsuit filed by the children of an 83-year-old resident from Buffalo Center. Their nursing home lawsuit alleged unconscionable and intentional abuse. The jury’s landmark award gave the children $2 million for pre-death pain and suffering, $1 million for pre-death loss of full mental and physical capability, $1 million for loss of relationship, and $2 million in punitive damages.
The nursing home appealed – they always appeal – alleging the trial judge, Judge James W. Drew, mistakenly allowed evidence of one employee’s intentional abuse that was central to the claims, was hearsay. Sadly, the Iowa Court of Appeals agreed this week and sent the case back to Buffalo Center for a new trial.
The Iowa Supreme Court issued an interesting opinion Estate of Butterfield v. Chautauqua Guest Home, Inc. addresses Iowa’s five-year-old certificate of merit requirement in medical malpractice lawsuits.
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Lawsuit Information Center