Lewis v. Baker

Although section 321.494 of the Iowa Code was without doubt enacted for a reasonable purpose, it has resulted in seemingly endless litigation. It is the so-called “guest statute”; clear enough in itself, but most difficult to apply to the varying factual situations that arise. We are faced with this problem again in the case at bar. The trial court solved it by submitting the issues to a jury, which returned its verdict for the plaintiff, and we have this appeal.

The plaintiff was injured in a collision between an automobile, in which he was admittedly riding as a guest of the defendant, and a…