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Ch 1, p.54 CIVIL PROCEDURE December 2010
Rule 1.930 Food and lodging. The court may order that food and lodging be provided at state
expense for a jury being kept together to try or deliberate on a cause.
[Report 1943; 1983 Iowa Acts, ch 186, §10142; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]
Rule 1.931 Rendering verdict and answering interrogatories.
1.931(1) Number. Before a general verdict, special verdicts, or answers to interrogatories
are returned, the parties may stipulate that the finding may be rendered by a stated majority of
the jurors. In the absence of such stipulation, a general verdict, special verdicts, or answers to
interrogatories must be rendered unanimously. However, a general verdict, special verdict, or
answers to interrogatories may be rendered by all jurors excepting one of the jurors if the jurors have
deliberated for a period of not less than six hours after the issues to be decided have been submitted
to them.
1.931(2) Return; poll. The jury agreeing on a general verdict, special verdicts, or answers to
interrogatories shall bring the finding into court where it shall be read to the jury and inquiry made if
it is the jury’s finding. A party may then require a poll, whereupon the court or clerk shall ask each
juror if it is the juror’s finding. If the required number of jurors does not express agreement, the jury
shall be sent out for further deliberation; otherwise, the finding is complete and, unless otherwise
provided by law, the jury shall be discharged.
1.931(3) Sealed. When, by consent of the parties and the court, the jury has been permitted to seal
its finding and separates before it is rendered, such sealing is equivalent to a rendition and a recording
thereof in open court, and such jury shall not be polled or permitted to disagree with respect thereto.
[Report 1943; amendment 1973; amended by 65GA, ch 315, §4; amendment 1980; amended February 21,
1985, effective July 1, 1985; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective
February 15, 2002]
Rule 1.932 Form and entry of verdicts. General verdicts, special verdicts, and answers to
interrogatories shall be in writing. When unanimous they shall be signed by the foreman or
forewoman chosen by the jury, and when they are not unanimous, they shall be signed by all jurors
concurring therein. They shall be sufficient in form if they express the intent of the jury. They shall
be filed with the clerk and be entered of record after being put in form by the court if need be.
[Report 1943; amendment 1973; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]
Rule 1.933 Special verdicts. The court may require that the verdict consist wholly of special written
findings on each issue of fact. It shall then submit in writing questions susceptible of categorical or
brief answers, or forms of several special findings that the jury might properly make under the issues
and evidence, or submit the issues and require the findings in any other appropriate manner. It shall
so instruct the jury as to enable it to find upon each issue submitted. If the submission omits any
issue of fact, any party not demanding submission of such issue before the jury retires waives jury
trial thereof, and the court may find upon it; failing which, it shall be deemed found in accord with
the judgment on the special verdict. The court shall direct such judgment on the special verdict and
answers as is appropriate thereto. Special interrogatories under Iowa Code chapter668 shall be treated
as special verdicts for purposes of the rules in this chapter.
[Report 1943; amended February 21, 1985, effective July 1, 1985; November 9, 2001, effective February 15,
2002]
Rule 1.934 Interrogatories. The jury in any case in which it renders a general verdict may be
required by the court, and must be so required on the request of any party to the action, to find
specially upon any particular questions of fact, to be stated to it in writing, which questions of fact
shall be submitted to the attorneys of the adverse party before argument to the jury is commenced. The
instructions shall be such as will enable the jury to answer the interrogatories and return the verdict. If
both are harmonious, the court shall order the appropriate judgment. If the answers are consistent with
each other, but any is inconsistent with the general verdict, the court may order judgment appropriate
to the answers notwithstanding the verdict, or a new trial, or send the jury back for further deliberation.
If the answers are inconsistent with each other, and any is inconsistent with the verdict, the court shall
not order judgment, but either send the jury back or order a new trial.
[Report 1943; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]