§ 670.1 Definitions
§ 670.2 Liability imposed
§ 670.3 Actual knowledge of defect as defense
§ 670.4 Claims exempted
§ 670.4A Qualified immunity
§ 670.5 Limitation of actions
§ 670.6 Death — claim presented by another
§ 670.7 Insurance
§ 670.8 Officers and employees defended
§ 670.9 Compromise and settlement
§ 670.10 Tax to pay judgment or settlement
§ 670.11 Claims not retrospective
§ 670.12 Officers and employees — personal liability
§ 670.13 Default judgments
§ 670.14 Money damages — nonwaiver of rights

Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 670 - Tort Liability of Governmental Subdivisions

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Governing body: means the council of a city, county board of supervisors, board of township trustees, local school board, and other boards and commissions exercising quasi-legislative, quasi-executive, and quasi-judicial power over territory comprising a municipality. See Iowa Code 670.1
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Livestock: includes but is not limited to an animal classified as an ostrich, rhea, or emu. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
  • Municipality: means city, county, township, school district, a chapter 28E entity as provided in section 670. See Iowa Code 670.1
  • Officer: includes but is not limited to the members of the governing body. See Iowa Code 670.1
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • road: include public bridges, and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" "common road" and "state road". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States. See Iowa Code 633D.2
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Tort: means every civil wrong which results in wrongful death or injury to person or injury to property or injury to personal or property rights and includes but is not restricted to actions based upon negligence; error or omission; nuisance; breach of duty, whether statutory or other duty or denial or impairment of any right under any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law. See Iowa Code 670.1
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1