Unless a party shows the party will be prejudiced thereby the court may consolidate separate actions which involve common questions of law or fact or order a single trial of any or all issues therein. In such cases it may make such orders concerning the proceedings as tend to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
Rule 1.913.Consolidation
Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.913 lets the court consolidate separate actions sharing common questions of law or fact, or order a single trial of any or all issues in them, unless a party shows prejudice would result, and gives the court authority to manage the consolidated proceedings to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
Full Text of Rule 1.913
Plain-English Summary
When separate lawsuits share the same underlying questions, trying them one at a time can waste everyone's time. Rule 1.913 lets the court consolidate those separate actions, or order a single trial of any or all of their common issues, whenever the cases involve common questions of law or fact.
That power is not unconditional. Consolidation is available unless a party shows it would be prejudiced by combining the cases — the rule builds in a check against forcing together actions where joint handling would disadvantage a party.
Once cases are consolidated or set for a joint trial of common issues, Rule 1.913 gives the court room to manage the resulting proceedings, making whatever orders tend to avoid unnecessary cost or delay along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lets a court consolidate two separate lawsuits?
Rule 1.913 allows consolidation when separate actions involve common questions of law or fact, or the court can instead order a single trial of any or all of those common issues.
Can I stop my case from being consolidated with another one?
You can if you show you would be prejudiced by the consolidation. Rule 1.913 conditions consolidation on the absence of a showing of prejudice by a party.
Does consolidation mean the cases become one lawsuit permanently?
Rule 1.913 also allows a narrower option — ordering a single trial of common issues rather than fully consolidating the actions, which the court can choose depending on what fits the cases.
What kind of orders can the court make once cases are consolidated?
Rule 1.913 lets the court make orders concerning the consolidated proceedings that tend to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
Do the cases need to be identical to be consolidated?
No. Rule 1.913 requires only common questions of law or fact, not identical claims or parties, for consolidation or a joint trial of shared issues.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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