The Iowa State Capitol Fire 1904, November 2012

The twenty-first century Iowa State Capitol contains state-of-the-art fire protection. Sprinklers and smoke detectors are located in every room and all public hallways are equipped with nearby hydrants. The Des Moines Fire Department is able to fight fires at nearly any height. However, on Monday morning, January 4, 1904, the circumstances were much different. By the beginning of 1904, the Capitol Improvement Commission had been working in the Capitol for about two years. The commissioners were in charge of decorating the public areas of the building, installing the artwork in the public areas, installing a new copper roof, re-gilding the dome, replacing windows, and connecting electrical lines throughout. Electrician H. Frazer had been working that morning in Committee Room Number Five behind the House Chamber, drilling into the walls to run electrical wires and using a candle to light his way. The investigating committee determined that Frazer had left his work area and had neglected to extinguish his candle. The initial fire alarm sounded at approximately 10 a.m. Many citizen volunteers came to help the fire department. Capitol employees and state officials also assisted in fighting the fire, including Governor Albert Cummins. The fire was finally brought under control around 6 p.m., although some newspaper accounts at the time reported that the fire continued smoldering for several days. Crampton Linley was the engineer working with the Capitol Improvement Commission. He was in the building at the time of the fire and was credited with saving the building. Linley crawled through attic areas to close doors separating wings of the Capitol, an action which smothered the flames and brought the fire under control. Sadly, Linley did not live long enough to be recognized for his heroism. The day after the fire, while examining the damage, Linley fell through the ceiling of the House Chamber and died instantly from severe head injuries. The flames had burned through the ceiling and caused much of it to collapse to the floor below, while the lower areas of the building had been damaged by smoke and water. Elmer Garnsey was the artist hired by the Capitol Improvement Commission to decorate the public areas of the building. Therefore, he seemed the logical candidate to be given the additional responsibility of redecorating the areas damaged by the fire. Garnsey had a very different vision for the decoration, which is why the House Chamber, the old Supreme Court Room, and the old Agriculture offices directly below the House Chamber have a design that is very different from the areas of the building untouched by the fire.

Roster of State Officials, 2012

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2011

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2010

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2009

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2008

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2006

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2005

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

Roster of State Officials, 2004

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active, policy-making boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster may also list advisory councils of a permanent nature whose members are appointed by the Governor, as well as other boards and commissions of interest to the public.

The State of the Judiciary, 2015

My job today as chief justice is to inform you and all Iowans of the condition of the Iowa Judicial Branch. The judicial branch is accountable to do its work so that Iowans can see the value of its fair and impartial courts. It is accountable every day for the resources it is given and the important responsibilities with which it has been entrusted. We best meet these obligations by becoming the best court system we can be. I am honored to report the progress the judicial branch has made towards becoming the best court system in the nation and the value of this progress for all Iowans. Both my grandfathers were carpenters. Like others who build with their hands, they could look at their work at the end of the day and see progress since the beginning of the day. Building Iowa’s court system consistent with its goals may not reveal progress at the end of every day as easily as the work of a carpenter. It is a long, careful process that requires the hands of many, working every day. But, certain days do come along when progress can be seen and our goals are closer within reach. Again this year, the goals of the judicial branch are to:  Protect Iowa’s children;  Provide full-time access to justice;  Operate an efficient, full-service court system;  Provide faster and less costly resolution of legal disputes;  Remain open and transparent; and  Provide fair and impartial justice for all.

80 casos de Derecho de daños (2004-2008)

InDret presenta, por quinto año consecutivo, una selección de cuarenta sentencias sobre responsabilidad civil dictadas por el Tribunal Supremo que tratan cuestiones centrales del derecho de daños. El lector también encontrará en este trabajo las selecciones de 2004, 2005, 2006 y 2007 publicadas en números anteriores.

Responsabilidad civil y daños a los propios bienes. Comentario a las SSTS, 1a, 29.10.2008 (RJ 2008\5801; MP: Román García Varela) y 22.12.2008 (RJ 2009\162; MP: Juan Antonio Xiol Ríos)

En 2008 y en dos ocasiones, la Sala Primera del Tribunal Supremo ha resuelto la cuestión relativa a si el propietario de una finca, la cual había contaminado como consecuencia del desarrollo de su actividad industrial y había vendido ocultando esta circunstancia, es responsable extracontractualmente frente al tercer adquirente por los daños económicos sufridos. En la primera Sentencia, de 29.10.2008, el Tribunal Supremo condena al contaminador por responsabilidad extracontractual. En la segunda, de 22.12.2008, el Tribunal Supremo absuelve a éste de la responsabilidad extracontracual porqué los daños fueron causados a una finca propia.

Sujetos responsables por los daños derivados del uso de un producto peligroso. Comentario a la STS, 1a, 21.11.2008 (MP:José Antonio Seijas Quintana), RJ 2009\144

La STS, 1a, 21.11.2008, objeto de este comentario, plantea a un tiempo la responsabilidad del consumidor, vendedor, fabricante y Administración pública por los daños materiales causados por la explosión de un producto altamente inflamable que había sido vendido a un particular para la desinfección de su vivienda.

Cuestiones sobre el contrato de servicios diseñado en el Marco Común de Referencia

La reciente publicación del draft del Common Frame of Reference invita a reflexionar sobre la figura del contrato de servicios, tal como ha sido desarrollada por el Study Group on a European Civil Code, y respecto de la que encontramos verdaderas innovaciones en comparación con la teoría tradicional que aún mantienen nuestra doctrina y jurisprudencia. El objeto del trabajo es exponer algunas de las soluciones que propone el derecho contractual europeo, e incidir en la posibilidad y conveniencia de su aplicación en nuestro país, con vistas a la oportuna elaboración de la tan esperada regulación civil sobre el contrato de servicios.

100 casos de derecho de daños (2004-2009)

InDret presenta, por sexto año consecutivo, una selección de veinte sentencias sobre responsabilidad civil dictadas por el Tribunal Supremo que tratan cuestiones centrales del derecho de daños. El lector también encontrará en este trabajo las selecciones de 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 y 2008 publicadas en números anteriores.