Van Ellen v. Meyer

MOORE, Chief Justice.

The sole issue raised here by plaintiff’s appeal is whether the right to bring an action for alienation of affections is barred, under section 598.20, Code, 1971, by a decree of dissolution of marriage absent a reservation of right to bring such an action in the dissolution decree.

Plaintiff-appellant, Darrell D. Van Ellen, and his wife Linda K., were married December 20, 1963. On January 7, 1972, this marriage was dissolved on the wife’s petition. Following dissolution Darrell filed an action for damages against defendant, Wendell Dean Meyer, for alleged alienation of…