Iowa Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Floyd County Medical Center for $10 Million Stille Estate

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) regarding the estate of Herman Stille, upholding the decision of the First Judicial District Court of Iowa and bringing FCMC’s extensive legal battle with the Mayo Clinic of Rochester to a close. 

FCMC leadership received notification of the decision from their legal counsel Friday (05.01) morning. The ruling affirms that more than $10 million from Stille’s estate will be awarded to FCMC to support the construction of a cancer center.

CEO Dawnett Willis said in a statement, “Words can’t fully capture the joy and relief we feel today. We are grateful that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld what we believe were Mr. Stille’s wishes — to establish a cancer center here in Charles City. With this decision, FCMC can now move forward in bringing oncology services closer to home for the communities we serve.”

The legal proceedings surrounding the Stille estate began in the fall of 2021, when his will identified FCMC as the beneficiary of funds intended for the construction of a cancer center. However, Mayo Clinic was listed as a secondary beneficiary, with funds designated for Alzheimer’s research should FCMC be unable to meet the conditions of the will.

FCMC has maintained that it satisfies the key condition of the will — remaining an independent healthcare organization — and therefore should receive the funds. Mayo countered that additional conditions apply, including the ability to provide certain cancer treatment services, such as radiation therapy.

After the First Judicial District Court in Chickasaw County ruled in favor of FCMC in June 2025, Mayo Clinic appealed the decision. The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments on February 19, 2026.

In its ruling Friday (05.01), the Court determined that Mayo Clinic lacked standing to challenge the bequest, as the terms of the will clearly provide that Mayo would only receive the gift if FCMC lost its independent status — something that did not and has not occurred.

As a result, the Court has affirmed the judgment in favor of FCMC.

With the case now resolved, FCMC says they will proceed with plans to develop the Stille Cancer Center on its campus.

“There are so many individuals celebrating this moment with us, and we are deeply grateful to each of them,” Willis said.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to our legal team at BrownWinick Law Firm — Jen Lindberg and Casey Alesch — for their unwavering dedication over the past five years. We are also grateful to our Board of Trustees, our exceptional team members, and the many individuals across Charles City, Floyd County, and beyond who have supported us throughout this journey. Your encouragement has meant so much to us. We look forward to bringing the Stille Cancer Center to life to serve our region and to honor Mr. Stille’s vision.”