Darrah v. Des Moines General Hospital

SCHULTZ, Justice.

This consolidated appeal addresses whether a defendant’s Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 80(a) motion, made after plaintiff has voluntarily dismissed the case, was timely. In each case, the district court held that it lacked jurisdiction to rule on this motion. We disagree and reverse.

Two separate medical malpractice cases against physicians have been consolidated for this appeal. Plaintiff Margaret M. Dar-rah brought an action based on the medical care provided for a fractured wrist by defendant Martin S. Rosenfeld and a local hospital. The hospital is not a party in this…