Iowa Code
Iowa Code § 572.32 (2026)
Attorney fees — remedies
✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
IA-LEGlegis.iowa.gov
JustiaTitle on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
1. In a court action to enforce a mechanic’s lien, or an action brought upon any bond given in lieu thereof, a prevailing plaintiff may be awarded reasonable attorney fees. 2. In a court action to challenge a mechanic’s lien posted on a residential construction property, or any bond given in lieu thereof, if the person challenging the lien or defending against any action on the bond prevails, the court may award reasonable attorney fees and actual damages. If the court determines that the mechanic’s lien was posted in bad faith or the supporting affidavit was materially false, the court shall award the owner reasonable attorney fees plus an amount not less than five hundred dollars or the amount of the lien, whichever is less. 83 Acts, ch 106, §1; 99 Acts, ch 79, §4; 2012 Acts, ch 1105, §22, 27, 28; 2012 Acts, ch 1138, §13; 2021 Acts, ch 72, §2, 3 Referred to in §561.21, 631.1
\nNotes of Decisions
Cited in 30
cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: Schaffer v. Frank Moyer Constr., Inc., 628 N.W.2d 11 (Iowa 2001).
Schaffer v. Frank Moyer Constr., Inc., 628 N.W.2d 11 (Iowa 2001). “Iowa Code § 572.32 . The award of attorney fees under this provision is mandatory.”
W.P. Barber Lumber Co. v. Celania, 674 N.W.2d 62 (Iowa 2003). “Iowa Code § 572.32 (1) (emphasis added). Celania urges us to reverse the district court’s award of attorney fees, because Barber Lumber, a subcontractor, did not directly furnish material to Celania.”
In the Interest of W.W., 826 N.W.2d 706 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012). “32 refers to “successful” plaintiff); see Iowa Code § 572.32 (referring to “prevailing party”).”
Star Equip., Ltd. v. State of Iowa, Iowa Dep't of Transp., 843 N.W.2d 446 (Iowa 2014). “2d 11, 23 (Iowa 2001) (holding mechanic’s lien statute, Iowa Code section 572.32, allowed award of appellate fees to be calculated by district court on remand); see also City of Riverdale v.”
Elyse De Stefano v. Apts. Downtown, Inc., 879 N.W.2d 155 (Iowa 2016). “§ 572.32(1) (permitting prevailing plaintiff to recover reasonable attorney fees in action to enforce mechanic’s lien); id.”
Nepstad Custom Homes Co. v. Krull, 527 N.W.2d 402 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994). “Nepstad argues it should have been awarded attorney fees under Iowa Code section 572.32. Because we have found Nep-stad was not entitled to enforce its mechanic’s lien, we find it is not entitled to trial attorney fees.”
Baumhoefener Nursery, Inc. v. a & D P'ship, II, 618 N.W.2d 363 (Iowa 2000). “The resulting judgment, $10,264, was declared enforceable against A & D’s real property, subject to foreclosure and judicial sale if not paid by a date certain.”
Stand. Water Control Sys., Inc., plaintiff-appellees/counterclaim-defendants v. Michael D. Jones & Cori Jones, defendants-appellants/counterclaim-plaintiffs., 888 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). “Iowa Code § 572.32 . The supreme court has stated that the following are appropriate factors to consider in taxing a fee in such a case: a.”
Clemens Graf Droste Zu Vischering v. Kading, 368 N.W.2d 702 (Iowa 1985). “106, § 1 (codified at Iowa Code § 572.32 (1985)). Droste contends that the trial court erred in giving retroactive effect to that statute.”
Bidwell v. Midwest Solariums, Inc., 543 N.W.2d 293 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). “Where the costs incurred by the owner to complete the contract exceeds the amount due the builder in a mechanic’s lien foreclosure action, it cannot be said the builder was the “successful” party entitled to attorneys fees under section 572.32 of the Iowa Code. IV. Rescission of…”
Kissner v. Brown, 487 N.W.2d 97 (Iowa Ct. App. 1992). “the trial court erred in failing to award the damages for breach of an express contract, (3) the trial court erred in failing to award the damages for express contracts with an implied compensation term or for implied contracts, (4) the trial court erred by failing to foreclose…”
Core Structural Servs., LLC v. Neumann Bros., Inc., North Cent. States Reg'l Council of Carpenters & Fed. Ins. Co. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). “72 § 2 (to be codified at Iowa Code § 572.32 ). 4 Core’s cost to install the original red concrete was $26,157.”
— Iowa Code § 572.32(1) — 9 cases
W.P. Barber Lumber Co. v. Celania, 674 N.W.2d 62 (Iowa 2003). “Iowa Code § 572.32 (1) (emphasis added). Celania urges us to reverse the district court’s award of attorney fees, because Barber Lumber, a subcontractor, did not directly furnish material to Celania.”
Elyse De Stefano v. Apts. Downtown, Inc., 879 N.W.2d 155 (Iowa 2016). “§ 572.32(1) (permitting prevailing plaintiff to recover reasonable attorney fees in action to enforce mechanic’s lien); id.”
Core Structural Servs., LLC v. Neumann Bros., Inc., North Cent. States Reg'l Council of Carpenters & Fed. Ins. Co. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). “72 § 2 (to be codified at Iowa Code § 572.32 ). 4 Core’s cost to install the original red concrete was $26,157.”
Borst Bros. Constr., Inc. v. Thomas Dostal Developers, Inc. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
Ryan Companies US, Inc. v. FDP WTC, LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
— Iowa Code § 572.32(2) — 2 cases
David Nebel D/B/A Nebel Elec. v. David L. Lott & Julie A. Lott, Dubuque Bank & Trust, & Dubuque City of Hous. Servs. Dep't (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.