Terms Used In Iowa Code 646.20

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
 When the plaintiff is entitled to damages for withholding or using or injuring the plaintiff’s property, the defendant may set off the value of any permanent improvements made thereon to the extent of the damages, unless the defendant prefers to take advantage of the law for the benefit of occupying claimants.