Mulder v. State, Department of Transportation

In April 1995 the plaintiff, William Mulder, purchased a damaged 1994 Toyota 4 Runner at a public auction. Prior to the auction the vehicle had been owned by State Farm Insurance. The insurer had received the vehicle as a result of a settlement with its owner arising out of damage to the vehicle, and it was deemed to be a “wrecked or salvage” vehicle for title purposes. Iowa Code § 321.52(4)(a) (Supp.1995).1

Mulder received the vehicle with a salvage title. He obtained a repair estimate of $4963.77. The vehicle had only 6096 miles, and Mulder claims its fair market value prior to the damage…