Garcia v. Wibholm

LAVORATO, Justice.

In this appeal we explore how far a guardian ad litem must go in defending an incarcerated civil defendant. The district court appointed the guardian ad litem pursuant to Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 13. After filing an answer and asserting an affirmative defense, the guardian ad litem withdrew with court approval. The district court proceeded to hear the plaintiffs’ evidence even though the defendant was not personally present. . Following the hearing, the district court awarded the plaintiffs substantial compensatory and punitive damages. We reverse and remand with…