Mark Peak v. Ellis Adams and Rachel Adams

WATERMAN, Justice.

Iowa has a strong public policy favoring settlements. This appeal decides the enforceability of a “Release of All Claims” that plaintiff, Mark Peak, signed on the advice of his attorney. Peak broke his leg while helping defendants, Ellis and Rachel Adams, move furniture using a rented U-Haul track. The liability insurer for U-Haul paid its policy limits of $20,000 to Peak and his attorney in exchange for a release that specifically named Ellis and arguably covered Rachel. When Peak sought additional compensation from another insurer for the Adamses, it denied coverage based…