Prof. Weresh: Resources for Demand Letter, Petition, and Answer  

This guide lists the sources that have proven most useful for Prof. Weresh's students completing the spring LRW & AP letter, motion/answer, and pleading writing assignments.

For additional resources, see the full research guides

Forms

Jury Awards, Judgments, and Settlements

Jury Instructions

Legal Writing

Practice Aids

See Finding Library Materials for more information on how to find materials referenced in this guide.

Click on the links below to bring up a list of library books that contain samples of each kind of legal writing, as well as information about how to craft them.

Iowa Pleading, Causes of Action and Defenses (LaMarca)
Library Location: Reserve (Information Desk) KFI4735 .L362
This book outlines Iowa civil litigation requirements and includes such appendices as sample forms, statute of limitation lists, and a table correlating Iowa jury instructions, traffic rules, and code sections.

Iowa Practice (Volz et al.)
Library Location: Reserve, Ready Reference, and Iowa Wing KFI4280 .I532 Also available on Westlaw (IAPRAC provides access to the complete set; separate databases offer access to specific areas of law and can be accessed through the Westlaw directory: U.S. State Materials > Iowa > Forms, Treatises, CLEs, and Other Practice Materials)

This set offers forms, commentary, and analysis on multiple areas of Iowa law, including business law, civil law, criminal law, family law, real estate, and probate.

Iowa Civil Jury Instructions
Library Location: Reserve KFI4742.6 .I58 1987
Iowa State Bar Association members may also access through the above link.  

Polk County Jury Verdicts: 1993-2002 and 2007-2010
Compiled and categorized by the Polk County Court Administration. The listings include the following data, as applicable: date of trial, type of injury, sex and age of plaintiff, medical special damages, last demand before trial, last offer before trial, and jury verdict and percentage of comparative fault.

What's It Worth? A Guide to Current Personal Injury Awards and Settlements
Library location: Reserve KF1257 .M9 2000 Click above for more recent version from LexisNexis.
This source summarizes personal injury damage awards, with each edition covering a three-year time period.

This guide is for your benefit so tell us what you think.  Suggestions are welcome!