SF 291 (LSB 1846XS (4) 91)

SENATE FILE 291

BY  DICKEY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to vexatious litigation and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  720.6A  Vexatious litigation.
   A person or person’s counsel that files, brings, defends, or asserts a civil claim against another person in bad faith or without a reasonable basis in law or fact commits a serious misdemeanor.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to vexatious litigation and provides for penalties. The bill provides that a person commits a serious misdemeanor if the person or the person’s counsel files, brings, defends, or asserts a civil claim in bad faith or with no reasonable basis in law or fact.
   A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.