Senate File 291 - Introduced SENATE FILE 291 BY DICKEY A BILL FOR An Act relating to vexatious litigation and providing 1 penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1846XS (4) 91 cm/jh

S.F. 291 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 720.6A Vexatious litigation. 1 A person or person’s counsel that files, brings, defends, 2 or asserts a civil claim against another person in bad faith 3 or without a reasonable basis in law or fact commits a serious 4 misdemeanor. 5 EXPLANATION 6 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 7 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 8 This bill relates to vexatious litigation and provides for 9 penalties. The bill provides that a person commits a serious 10 misdemeanor if the person or the person’s counsel files, 11 brings, defends, or asserts a civil claim in bad faith or with 12 no reasonable basis in law or fact. 13 A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no 14 more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than 15 $2,560. 16 -1- LSB 1846XS (4) 91 cm/jh 1/ 1