A motion for new trial is a procedure that allows the trial court to order a new trial to correct significant errors in the previous trial that prevented a party from receiving a fair trial.
In Iowa, a motion for a new trial is governed by the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure. A party may file a motion for a new trial if they believe that significant errors occurred during the trial that resulted in an unfair outcome. These errors could include, but are not limited to, incorrect jury instructions, improper admission or exclusion of evidence, juror misconduct, or legal errors made by the judge. The motion must be filed within a specified time frame after the verdict, usually not more than 15 days. The trial court will then review the motion and decide whether to grant a new trial based on the grounds presented. If the motion is granted, the case will be retried as if the original trial had not occurred. The decision to grant a new trial is at the discretion of the trial court, and such decisions are subject to limited review by appellate courts.