Tull v. Honda Research & Development, Ltd.

LAVORATO, Justice.

Iowa Code chapter 616 (1989) has two venue provisions that determine where personal injury actions shall be filed. They are Iowa Code sections 616.17 and 616.18. Another provision, Iowa Code section 616.-20, provides that a nonresident defendant is entitled to a dismissal when all resident defendants are dismissed. However, section 616.20 is expressly limited to actions brought pursuant to section 616.17; section 616.18 is not mentioned.

Originally four corporations and an individual were sued. The four corporate defendants settled and were dismissed from the lawsuit. The…