Terms Used In Iowa Code 145A.4

• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Merged area: means a public corporation formed by the residents of two or more contiguous or noncontiguous political subdivisions which have merged resources to establish and operate an area hospital. See Iowa Code 145A.2
• Political subdivision: means any county, township, school district or city. See Iowa Code 145A.2