Peterson Ex Rel. Peterson v. Dean

This is an action for personal injuries sustained by a guest passenger in a one-car accident. At the close of the plaintiff’s evidence, the trial court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss. The sole issue on appeal is whether the evidence of the plaintiff was sufficient to raise a jury issue on the liability of the defendant under the Iowa guest statute.

The plaintiff, Diane Peterson, and the defendant, Sandra Dean, lived and worked in Omaha, Nebraska. On Friday evening, August 9, 1968, they drove from Omaha, Nebraska, to North Sioux City, South Dakota. At around 10 p.m., they arrived at The…