{"data":{"id":"us-ia/iowa-code-619.17","jurisdiction":"us-ia","citation":"Iowa Code § 619.17","heading":"Contributory fault — burden.","body":"A plaintiff does not have the burden of pleading and proving the plaintiff’s freedom from contributory fault. If a defendant relies upon contributory fault of a plaintiff to diminish the amount to be awarded as compensatory damages, the defendant has the burden of pleading and proving fault of the plaintiff, if any, and that it was a proximate cause of the injury or damage. As used in this section, “plaintiff” includes a defendant filing a counterclaim or cross-petition, and the term “defendant” includes a plaintiff against whom a counterclaim or cross-petition has been filed.","path":["Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES (Ch. 595 - 686D)","Chapter 619 - PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS"],"source_url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/619.17.pdf","current_through":"Iowa Code 2026 edition","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:40:16Z","sha256":"debad347cd15e87df5174ae744131ac8321470520a47ead2dd5035d5caf1f33d","source_id":"us-ia","stale":false,"prev":"us-ia/iowa-code-619.16","next":"us-ia/iowa-code-619.18"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}