619.17  Contributory fault -- burden.

A plaintiff does not have the burden of pleading and proving the plaintiff's freedom from contributory fault. If a defendant relies upon contributory fault of a plaintiff to diminish the amount to be awarded as compensatory damages, the defendant has the burden of pleading and proving fault of the plaintiff, if any, and that it was a proximate cause of the injury or damage. As used in this section, "plaintiff" includes a defendant filing a counterclaim or cross-petition, and the term "defendant" includes a plaintiff against whom a counterclaim or cross-petition has been filed.

Section History: Early form

  [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 619.17]

Section History: Recent form

  84 Acts, ch 1293, § 13

Footnotes

  Comparative fault; see chapter 668


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