1. The department of inspections and appeals’ determination and order shall be just and equitable and, in the case of the determination of the fair market value of the property, shall be based in part upon at least three independent appraisals prepared by certified appraisers. Each party shall select one appraiser and each appraisal shall be paid for by the party for whom the appraisal is prepared. The two appraisers shall select a third appraiser and the costs of this appraisal shall be divided equally between the parties. If the appraisers selected by the parties cannot agree on selection of a third appraiser, the state department of transportation shall appoint a third appraiser and the costs of this appraisal shall be divided equally between the parties.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 327G.79

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Department: means the state department of transportation. See Iowa Code 321H.2
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The department of inspections and appeals’ determination and order is final for the purpose of administrative review to the district court as provided in chapter 17A. The district court’s scope of review shall be confined to whether there is substantial evidence to support the department of inspections and appeals’ determination and order.
 3. For purposes of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, “department” means the state department of transportation.