ejusdem generis doctrine in Iowa

2019Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd. v. Shell Oil Co., 606 N.W.2d 376, 380 (Iowa 2000) (“Under the doctrine of ejusdem generis, general words which follow specific words are tied to the meaning and purpose of the specific words.”). 19 A trial court in Florida recently struggled with the question of whether the demolition of a pier building provided the basis for a referendum under a city charter provision that required voter approval when waterfront property owned by the city was “sold, donated, or leased.” See Ford v. City of St.

2013The doctrine of ejusdem generis “provides that when general words follow specific words in a statute, the general words are read to embrace only objects similar to those objects of the specific words.” Teamsters Local Union No. 421 v. City of Dubuque, 706 N.W.2d 709, 715 (Iowa 2005).

2013The doctrine of ejusdem generis “provides that when general words follow specific words in a statute, the general words are read to embrace only objects similar to those objects of the specific words.” Teamsters Local Union No. 421 v. City of Dubuque, 706 N.W.2d 709, 715 (Iowa 2005).

2000Furthermore, the word “other” is used to modify “potentially responsible party.” In following “owner, operator,” it indicates a “potentially responsible party” includes an “owner” or “operator.” See Keenan v. Bowers, 91 F.Supp. 771, 773 (E.D.S.C. 1950) (the word “other” following an enumeration of particular classes of things in a statute is read as meaning “other such like” and as including only words of like kind or character).

1979In Hartman v. Merged Area VI Community College, 270 N.W.2d 822, 826-28 (Iowa 1978), we applied the ejusdem generis rule to link the phrase “any good cause” with preceding statutory language, “incompetency, inattention to duty, [or] partiality.” In Johnston v. Marion Independent School District, 275 N.W.2d 215, 216 (Iowa 1979), we held a teacher’s attainment of mandatory retirement age was not a ground for “good cause” discharge.

1979In Hartman v. Merged Area VI Community College, 270 N.W.2d 822, 826-28 (Iowa 1978), we applied the ejusdem generis rule to link the phrase “any good cause” with preceding statutory language, “incompetency, inattention to duty, [or] partiality.” In Johnston v. Marion Independent School District, 275 N.W.2d 215, 216 (Iowa 1979), we held a teacher’s attainment of mandatory retirement age was not a ground for “good cause” discharge.

1973The ejusdem generis rule instead gives effect to both the particular and the general words “ ‘by treating the particular words as indicting the class, and the general words as extending the provisions of the statute to everything embraced in that class, though not specifically named by the particular words.’ ” 2 Sutherland, Statutory Construction, § 4909 at 399 (Third Ed. 1943), quoting National Bank of Commerce v. Estate of Ripley, 161 Mo. 126, 131 , 61 S.W. 587, 588 (1901).

1973The ejusdem generis rule instead gives effect to both the particular and the general words “ ‘by treating the particular words as indicting the class, and the general words as extending the provisions of the statute to everything embraced in that class, though not specifically named by the particular words.’ ” 2 Sutherland, Statutory Construction, § 4909 at 399 (Third Ed. 1943), quoting National Bank of Commerce v. Estate of Ripley, 161 Mo. 126, 131 , 61 S.W. 587, 588 (1901).

1973Hodgson v. Mountain & Gulf Oil Co., 297 F. 269, 272 (D.C.Wyo.1924) ("The ejusdem generis rule of statutory construction is that a `clean-up' phrase of this character will include only things of a like or similar kind * * *."); 50 Am.Jur.