CADY, Chief Justice.

In this appeal, we must decide whether the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA) permits a district court to award punitive damages. The district court held an award of punitive damages is not permitted under the ICRA. On our review, we affirm the decision of the district court and remand for further proceedings.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

Tammie Ackelson, Robin Drake, and Heather Miller were employees of Manley Toy Direct and Toy Network, both limited liability companies located in Indianola, Iowa, with parent companies in Hong Kong. The businesses purchase and sell toys and other merchandise.

In 2010, the three employees initiated lawsuits against the businesses, collectively referred to as Manley Toy, and certain individuals associated with the businesses. The petitions alleged employment practice claims based on a violation of the ICRA. The claims alleged a supervisor named Tim Downey and a coworker named Steffen Hampton repeatedly made vulgar and harassing comments to the women, including demeaning name-calling, and sexually explicit and offensive discussions about Downey's sexual relationships. The lawsuits articulated claims for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation under the ICRA and demanded punitive damages. No other claims were alleged.

Manley Toy moved to strike the claim for punitive damages. The district court granted Manley Toy's motion. It reasoned that the court could only grant relief that the civil rights commission was authorized to grant, and punitive damages are not available under the ICRA.

The plaintiffs sought, and we granted, interlocutory appeal. They ask us to review our prior decisions holding that punitive damages are not available for claims under the ICRA and to interpret the ICRA to permit courts to award punitive damages.

II. Standard of Review.

We review a decision by the district court on a motion to strike for correction of legal errors. See Iowa R.App. P. 6.907. Similarly, we review an interpretation of a statute for correction of legal errors. Rolfe State Bank v. Gunderson, 794 N.W.2d 561, 564 (Iowa 2011).

III. Discussion.

A. ICRA Framework. The ICRA prohibits unfair and discriminatory employment practices against a person "because of" the person's membership in a protected class and provides for a claim for relief. Iowa Code §§ 216.6(1)(a), .15 (Supp.2009). Persons who seek to assert their rights under the ICRA, however, must follow the statutory processes to obtain relief. See id. §§ 216.15-.16. This procedure begins by filing a complaint with the state civil rights commission, but eventually permits an action to be pursued in court.1

Section 216.16(6) of the ICRA provides that "[t]he district court may grant any relief in an action under this section which is authorized by section 216.15, subsection 9, to be issued by the commission." Id. 216.16(6). In turn, section 216.15(9) provides:

Id. § 216.15(9). Additionally, in allowing the ICRA to award damages to the complainant, section 216.15(9)(a)(8) states:

Id. § 216.15(9)(a)(8).

The ICRA was enacted in 1965. 1965 Iowa Acts ch. 121 (codified at 105A.1-.12 (1966)). It was subsequently amended in 1978 to require the exhaustion of administrative remedies before proceeding into court through the statutory procedures that remain in the Act today. See 1978 Iowa Acts ch. 1179 (codified at § 601A.1-.19 (1979)). However, the statutory language at issue in this case has not been changed in any meaningful way since the 1978 amendments.2

B. Existing Case Authority. We have previously held the legislative scheme of the ICRA does not permit an award of punitive damages. See Chauffeurs, Teamsters & Helpers, Local Union No. 238 v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 394 N.W.2d 375, 384 (Iowa 1986). In Chauffeurs, a union sought judicial review of a commission decision awarding emotional distress and punitive damages to an individual excluded from the union on the basis of race. Id. at 377. The union argued the damages section under the ICRA did not give the commission statutory authority to award punitive damages. Id. at 384. In response, the commission argued the plain meaning of the statutory phrase "`damages shall include but are not limited to actual damages'" implied the availability of punitive damages. Id. at 384 (quoting Iowa Code § 601A.15(8)(a)(8) (1979) (current version at id. § 216.15(9)(a)(8) (Supp. 2009))).

We held the statutory phrase pertaining to damages "[did] not necessarily imply punitive damages are available." Id. We relied primarily on the reasoning of High v. Sperry Corp., 581 F.Supp. 1246, 1247-48 (S.D.Iowa 1984). See Chauffeurs, 394 N.W.2d at 384. The court in High found the district court's authority to award damages is no more extensive than that of the commission. 581 F.Supp. at 1247. It reasoned that although "actual damages" is often synonymous with "compensatory damages" — which seemingly includes everything other than punitive damages — "actual damages" also sometimes merely means "pecuniary losses and [does] not include other types of non-punitive damages, such as special damages." Id. "Thus, the phrase `not limited to actual damages' in the Iowa statute [did] not necessarily imply the availability of punitive damages." Id. The court predicted:

Id. at 1248.

We confirmed this prediction, stating, "The language `but not limited to actual damages' in [ICRA] does not necessarily imply punitive damages are available." Chauffeurs, 394 N.W.2d at 384. We also relied on "[t]he general rule ... that an administrative agency cannot award punitive damages absent express statutory language allowing such an award." Id.

Four years later, in Smith v. ADM Feed Corp., we reiterated our interpretation of the ICRA that punitive damages were not available unless expressly provided. 456 N.W.2d 378, 383 (Iowa 1990), overruled on other grounds by McElroy v. State, 703 N.W.2d 385, 394-95 (Iowa 2005). We stated:

Smith, 456 N.W.2d at 383 (citation omitted). We also observed "[t]he district court sits as the commission and is empowered to grant only that relief authorized by section [216.15]." Id. at 381 (citing Iowa Code § 601A.16(5) (current version at id. § 216.16(6))).

Following Chauffeurs and Smith, we have continued to mention in a series of cases that punitive damages are not an available remedy unless expressly provided for under the ICRA. See, e.g., Channon v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 629 N.W.2d 835, 849 (Iowa 2001). The last case to make this pronouncement was in 2004. See Van Meter Indus. v. Mason City Human Rights Comm'n, 675 N.W.2d 503, 515 (Iowa 2004) (citing Chauffeurs and holding that if the state civil rights commission lacks the power to award punitive damages so does a local civil rights commission). One case, City of Hampton v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission, cited Chauffeurs when it held the plaintiff introduced insufficient evidence to support an emotional-distress award. 554 N.W.2d 532, 537 (Iowa 1996). It reasoned that an emotional-distress award that was clearly excessive given the scant evidence the plaintiff introduced would be essentially punitive, and since Chauffeurs held punitive damages are unavailable under ICRA the emotional-distress award had to be reduced commensurate with the evidence introduced at trial. Id. Thus, our prior cases have made it abundantly clear that the ICRA does not permit courts to award punitive damages unless it expressly says so.

C. Development of the Law Outside of Iowa. While we have consistently declared since 1986 that punitive damages are not available under our civil rights statute, a survey of the landscape of the law outside Iowa reveals a split of authority, with considerable legislative and judicial activity.3 We review this law to give us a better understanding of the issue we must decide.

To begin with, we recognize Congress amended Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act in 1991 to provide for a broader array of damages, including punitive damages. See Civil Rights Act of 1991, Pub.L. No. 102-166, § 102, 105 Stat. 1071, 1072 (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1981a(a)(1) (1994)). It enacted the amendment "to strengthen existing protections and remedies available under federal civil rights laws to provide more effective deterrence and adequate compensation for victims of discrimination." H.R.Rep. No. 102-40(II), at 1 (1991), reprinted in 1991 U.S.C.C.A.N. 694, 694.

Additionally, many state statutes now expressly permit either the district court or an administrative agency to award punitive damages.4 On the other hand, some jurisdictions explicitly prohibit awards of punitive damages in all or some circumstances.5

Some states have enacted statutes that authorize a variety of relief for successful employment discrimination plaintiffs, but neither specifically mentions punitive damages nor contains open-ended language such as "included, but not limited to." See, e.g., Colo.Rev.Stat. § 24-34-405 (2012);6 775 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/8A-104 (West 2011); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 28-1-13(D) (2012); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 344.450 (LexisNexis 2011); Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 25, § 1350(G) (West 2008 & Supp.2013); S.D. Codified Laws § 20-13-35.1 (2004); Wis. Stat. § 111.39(4)(c) (2011 & Supp.2012); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-9-106(n) (2011). A number of statutes include more open-ended, or seemingly open-ended, language identifying the relief the district court may award. See, e.g., Alaska Stat. §§ 18.80.220, 22.10.020(i) (2012); Ariz.Rev. Stat. Ann. § 41-1481(G) (2011); Conn. Gen.Stat. Ann. § 46a-104 (West 2009); D.C.Code § 2-1403.16(b) (LexisNexis 2012); Ind.Code Ann. §§ 22-9-1-6(j), -17(b) (LexisNexis 2010), Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-1005(k) (2000); La.Rev.Stat. Ann. §§ 51:2261(C), 2264 (2012); Nev.Rev.Stat. § 233.170(4)(b) (2011); N.D. Cent.Code § 14-02.4-20 (2009); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 4112.05(G)(1) (LexisNexis 2007); 43 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 962(c)(3) (West 2009); Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 4-21-306(a)(7), -311(b) (2011); Wash. Rev.Code Ann. § 49.60.030(2) (West 2008); W. Va.Code Ann. § 5-11-13(c) (LexisNexis 2011).7

Of these latter jurisdictions, some courts have concluded that, due in part to the absence of express statutory provision for punitive damages in their statutes, a district court may not award punitive damages.8 See Cronin v. Sheldon, 195 Ariz. 531, 991 P.2d 231, 236-37 (1999); Ind. Civil Rights Comm'n v. Alder, 714 N.E.2d 632, 638 (Ind.1999); Devillier v. Fid. & Deposit Co. of Md., 709 So.2d 277, 282 (La.App. 3 Cir.1998); Sands Regent v. Valgardson, 105 Nev. 436, 777 P.2d 898, 900 (1989); Hoy v. Angelone, 554 Pa. 134, 720 A.2d 745, 749-51 (1998); Carver v. Citizen Utils. Co., 954 S.W.2d 34, 35-36 (Tenn. 1997); Dailey v. N. Coast Life Ins. Co., 129 Wn.2d 572, 919 P.2d 589, 592 (1996). Other jurisdictions have interpreted their acts to permit a district court to award punitive damages. See Loomis Elec. Prot., Inc. v. Schaefer, 549 P.2d 1341, 1343 (Alaska 1976); Arthur Young & Co. v. Sutherland, 631 A.2d 354, 372 (D.C.1993); Ellis v. N.D. State Univ., 764 N.W.2d 192, 203 (N.D.2009); Rice v. CertainTeed Corp., 84 Ohio St.3d 417, 704 N.E.2d 1217, 1220-21 (1999); Haynes v. Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., 206 W.Va. 18, 521 S.E.2d 331, 346-48 (1999). In Connecticut, an apparent split of authority exists among the superior courts regarding the power of the court to award punitive damages. Compare Collier v. State, No. CV96-80659, 1999 WL 300643, at *3-4 (Conn.Super.Ct. May 3, 1999) (permitting a district court to award punitive damages), with Wright v. Colonial Motors, Inc., No. CV116008335, 2012 WL 2044635, at *1-2 (Conn.Super.Ct. May 16, 2012) (holding a court may not award punitive damages).

Some of the courts that have rejected punitive damages claims have strong, well-established public policies against permitting punitive damages without express legislative authorization. See Devillier, 709 So.2d at 282 ("Punitive damages cannot be awarded unless authorized by statute."); Dailey, 919 P.2d at 590 ("Governing resolution of this case is the court's long-standing rule prohibiting punitive damages without express legislative authorization."); see also McCoy v. Ark. Natural Gas Co., 175 La. 487, 143 So. 383, 385-86 (1932) ("There is no authority in the law of Louisiana for allowing punitive damages in any case, unless it be for some particular wrong for which a statute expressly authorizes the imposition of some such penalty."). These jurisdictions are comparable to Nebraska, which has held that "punitive, vindictive, or exemplary damages contravene Neb. Const. art. VII, § 5, and thus are not allowed." Distinctive Printing & Packaging Co. v. Cox, 232 Neb. 846, 443 N.W.2d 566, 574 (1989); see also Pedersen, 978 F.Supp. at 935. On the other hand, other jurisdictions mention public policy considerations to help recognize punitive damages. The Supreme Court of Alaska concluded "the legislature intended to put as many `teeth' into [the] law as possible." Loomis, 549 P.2d at 1343.

This review not only reveals divergent approaches to punitive damages in civil rights litigation, but shows that the issue, for the most part, has received much attention. In particular, it has also been an issue that has actively engaged legislatures and required courts to interpret statutory enactments. Over the years, this time honored process has allowed the states to carve out their position on punitive damages.

D. Public Policy Considerations. As the review of the law in other jurisdictions reveals, public policy considerations can play a critical role in the decision to permit or deny punitive damages. The role of public policy in permitting an award of punitive damages under the ICRA is highlighted by the amicus briefs filed in this case, including the brief filed by the Association of Business and Industry (ABI).

First, it asserts Iowa businesses prefer a climate in which punitive damages are not available. It is argued that punitive damage awards can give rise to adverse consequences to businesses, including the threat of insolvency. See W. Kip Viscusi, The Social Costs of Punitive Damages in Environmental and Safety Torts, 87 Geo. L.J. 285, 285 (1998). ABI also points out that "Iowa is geographically surrounded by states that have business-friendly legal climates with respect to this issue.... Iowa competes with these states to attract new businesses, as well as for the jobs and commerce they generate." Second, ABI argues that the costs of punitive damages award will be passed on to consumers and shareholders. See Lisa Litwiller, From Exxon to Engle: The Futility of Assessing Punitive Damages as Against Corporate Entities, 57 Rutgers L.Rev. 301, 334-35 (2004).

Of course, arguments can be made based on public policy that would support punitive damages. As the plaintiff's argue, punitive damages are well-established under Iowa's common law. See Lacey v. Straughan, 11 Iowa 258, 260 (1860). Punitive damages by definition punish defendants who have intentionally violated another's rights. See Ward v. Ward, 41 Iowa 686, 688 (1875). They exist to protect society and the public in general. Sebastian v. Wood, 246 Iowa 94, 100, 66 N.W.2d 841, 844 (1954); see also David G. Owen, A Punitive Damages Overview: Functions, Problems and Reform, 39 Vill. L.Rev. 363, 374-81 (1994).

In particular, punitive damages would serve to deter purposeful employment discrimination. Cf. Humburd v. Crawford, 128 Iowa 743, 744, 105 N.W. 330, 330-31 (1905) (reasoning that the strong public policy opposing discrimination in public accommodations, evidenced by the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1884, could be effectuated through a private cause of action for damages). Indeed, punitive damages have been permitted in a variety of employment-related common law cases to vindicate workers' rights. See, e.g., Cawthorn v. Catholic Health Initiatives Iowa Corp., 743 N.W.2d 525, 528-29 (Iowa 2007) (discussing whether defendant's conduct in a case involving wrongful discharge in violation of public policy met the standard for punitive damages set forth in section 668A.1); Tullis v. Merrill, 584 N.W.2d 236, 238, 241 (Iowa 1998) (affirming punitive damage award against an employer who retaliated against an employee in violation of the public policy expressed in Iowa's Wage Payment Collection Law. Additionally, punitive damage awards — like awards of attorney's fees — can play a crucial role in public interest cases. See Ayala v. Ctr. Line, Inc., 415 N.W.2d 603, 605 (Iowa 1987) ("The reason for awarding attorneys fees in [a civil rights case] is to ensure that private citizens can afford to pursue the legal actions necessary to advance the public interest vindicated by the policies of civil rights acts.")).

E. Current Status of Iowa Law. The plaintiffs suggest we landed a knockout blow to the rule against the recovery of punitive damages under the ICRA in McElroy, and a careful application of the rules of statutory construction reveal the ICRA is properly interpreted to permit punitive damages. In McElroy, we overruled our prior pronouncement in Smith that litigants seeking money damages under the ICRA were not entitled to a jury trial. 703 N.W.2d at 394-95. Instead, we held such claims were subject to the rights of civil litigants to a jury trial. Id. We characterized the core premise of Smith, that "the district court in an ICRA action `sits as the [commission] and is empowered only to grant that relief authorized' by the ICRA," as "fundamentally flawed." See id. at 393 (quoting Smith, 456 N.W.2d at 381). We also quoted from the Smith dissent, observing the legislature sought to provide "`an alternative to the administrative proceeding in the form of an ordinary civil action.'" McElroy, 703 N.W.2d at 394 (quoting Smith, 456 N.W.2d at 387-88 (Carter, J., dissenting)).

We then said:

Id.

The plaintiffs rely on our own criticism of Smith as a signal that McElroy not only opened the door for jury trials in ICRA claims, but also to allowing in other components of the civil justice system, including punitive damages. They then developed a detailed analysis of the relevant statutory language of the ICRA to support an interpretation that the legislature implicitly intended for punitive damages to be awarded. This analysis was met with a strong countervailing argument by Manley Toy.

F. Statutory Interpretation. We approach the resolution of the issue in this case the same as we approach the resolution of all issues of statutory interpretation. Our task is to ascertain the intent of our legislature. Andover Volunteer Fire Dep't v. Grinnell Mut. Reins. Co., 787 N.W.2d 75, 81 (Iowa 2010). This task is not only tied to the separation-of-powers doctrine, but it is rooted in "the underlying principles that the legislature makes the law and the courts interpret the law." Id.

Importantly, the rules of interpretation established to assist courts in determining legislative intent do not follow a common path, only a common outcome. At times, various rules are used to the exclusion of others. In this case, we decline to revisit an interpretation based on the words and phrases used in the relevant statute.

Instead, the path we follow in this case is one primarily built on the venerable principles of stare decisis and legislative acquiescence. We are slow to depart from stare decisis and only do so under the most cogent circumstances. See State v. Liddell, 672 N.W.2d 805, 813 (Iowa 2003). Moreover, we presume the legislature is aware of our cases that interpret its statutes. Baumler v. Hemesath, 534 N.W.2d 650, 655 (Iowa 1995). When many years pass following such a case without a legislative response, we assume the legislature has acquiesced in our interpretation. Gen. Mortg. Corp. of Iowa v. Campbell, 258 Iowa 143, 152, 138 N.W.2d 416, 421 (1965).

We have clearly and repeatedly stated our conclusion that the ICRA does not implicitly permit an award of punitive damages. This message has been a reoccurring pronouncement over the last twenty-seven years. No significant legislative changes have been made since our first pronouncement in 1986 that would even hint at a shift in legislative intent since that time.

During this same period, the issue of punitive damages in civil rights claims has received broad national attention, making it very likely that our legislature would have taken action to alter our interpretation if it disapproved. Our review of the landscape of the law across the nation shows that this has been a topic of national conversation. Additionally, the issue is injected with public policy considerations, making it an issue particularly appropriate for legislative consideration. See Jensen v. Sattler, 696 N.W.2d 582, 586 (Iowa 2005) ("The scope of the statute is a matter of public policy and therefore within the province of the legislature."); cf. Robinson v. Bognanno, 213 N.W.2d 530, 532 (Iowa 1973) ("[A]n amendment [to enlarge the class protected by the Dram Shop Act] would be the exclusive province of the legislature."), overruled on other grounds by Lewis v. State, 256 N.W.2d 181, 192 (Iowa 1977). Overall, we think our legislature would be quite surprised to learn if we decided to reverse course and take a different position under the guise of statutory interpretation. We did our job twenty-seven years ago and will leave it for the legislature to take any different approach. The specific arguments presented by the plaintiffs are not so powerful or obvious that they plainly undermine our prior line of cases. Additionally, we recognize our legislature has demonstrated that it knows how to permit punitive damages for specific civil rights actions when it wishes to do so. Compare Iowa Code § 216.15(9)(a)(8) (permitting the commission to award complainant "damages for an injury caused by the discriminatory or unfair practice which damages shall include but are not limited to actual damages" in an employment discrimination action), with id. § 216.17A(6)(a) (permitting the district court to award "actual and punitive damages" in a housing discrimination action). It expressly provided for punitive damages for housing discrimination when it added section 216.17A(6)(a) in 1991, only five years after Chauffeurs and just a year after Smith. See 1991 Iowa Acts ch. 184, § 11 (allowing award of "[a]ctual and punitive damages") (codified at Iowa Code § 601A.17A (1993) (current version at id. § 216.17A(6)(a))).

We acknowledge that we reversed course in McElroy when we overruled Smith and interpreted the ICRA to allow for jury trials in court proceedings. Yet, Smith was a very narrow majority decision and preceded McElroy by just fifteen years. Additionally, the question of punitive damages has been a very visible issue for a long time across the nation, and Iowa's position has been staked out. It is a position that is ingrained in our legal culture. Thus, the backdrop to McElroy was much different than it is to this case, and we are confident that our legislature has acquiesced in our position after twenty-seven years. Under all the circumstances, we conclude our legislature did not intend to allow for punitive damages under the ICRA except when it expressly did so.

IV. Conclusion.

We affirm the decision of the district court and remand for further proceedings.

AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.