Court Rules in Favor of Iowa State Senator Adrian Dickey in Car Ownership Lawsuit

PACKWOOD — A lawsuit against Iowa State Senator Adrian Dickey, filed by his daughter, ex-wife, and her husband, was ruled in his favor on Sept. 16. The case revolved around a vehicle purchased by Dickey in 2020 for his daughter to drive, Korynn Dickey, which later became the subject of legal contention.

In 2020, Senator Dickey bought a Toyota Corolla for Korynn to drive. In May 2023, the car was involved in an accident and totaled while being driven by Korynn's stepfather, Allen Husted. Dickey was accused of collecting the insurance payout of $23,686.75 for the loss, which Korynn and her family claimed was done without her knowledge or consent.

Korynn, along with her mother Shawna Husted and stepfather Allen, filed a lawsuit against Dickey, alleging that the lienholder status was applied without Korynn's consent. In his ruling, Judge Wilson emphasized that Korynn had driven the vehicle for several years and had never voiced objections to her father being the lienholder. Wilson wrote.“At the time, Korynn did not show any incomprehension as to what the ‘lienholder’ was and if she did not understand she could have asked but didn’t. There is simply no evidence that Defendant defrauded or cheated his way into becoming a lienholder on the red Corolla’s title and if Korynn objected to that reservation, the time for her to speak was before the purchase and not in a lawsuit filed years later.”

The defense introduced evidence of a conversation via text or email from July 30, 2020, between Korynn, Adrian Dickey, and Shawna Husted, in which Dickey explains that the vehicle would be registered in her name, with him listed as the lienholder. 

The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their case in July 2024, but the court proceeded with a ruling. The court found that the plaintiffs had failed to provide evidence supporting their claims and ruled that Adrian’s breach of contract claim was supported by the evidence and ordered the turnover of $23,686.75 in insurance funds held in escrow.

Dickey also filed a counterclaim for defamation for $1, alleging that Korynn had made misleading social media posts about him. During the discovery process, Shawna, Allen and Korynn refused to comply with court orders to provide access to her social media posts and text messages, which led to a default judgment. The court further noted that Shawna and Allen Husted had discussed bribing Korynn and spoliating evidence, which contributed to the court’s decision.

In his ruling, Judge Wilson criticized the plaintiffs for withholding social media credentials and other pertinent information. "Each plaintiff consciously chose to delay and outright refuse to provide discovery that furthers the truth-seeking function of this Court," Wilson wrote.

The court ultimately awarded Senator Dickey $23,686.75 for his breach of contract claim and $1 in damages for the defamation counterclaim.

Editor’s Note: This article was produced to provide a clearer and more comprehensive summary of the legal proceedings surrounding Senator Dickey’s case, following concerns that the original report did not offer sufficient detail to fully inform the public. The updated version aims to outline the events and rulings with more transparency, ensuring an accurate understanding of the situation.