Elyse De Stefano v. Apts. Downtown, Inc.

APPEL, Justice.

This case is a landlord-tenant dispute that was initially tried as a small claims matter. The case presents a preliminary question of first impression, namely, whether an award of attorneys’ fees should be considered as part of the “amount in controversy” for purposes of determining the jurisdiction of the small claims court. If there is subject matter jurisdiction, the case includes several important issues under the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (IURLTA), including (1) whether a landlord may enter into a contract with a tenant that requires the tenant to…