Iowa Supreme Court · No. 24-0346
Kelly Brodie, Dr. John Heffron, Katherine King, Dr. Michael Langenfeld, Katherine Rall and Jamie Shaw v. Jerry R. Foxhoven, Richard Shults, Jerry Rea, Mohammad Rehman, Glenwood Resource Center and Iowa Department of Human Services
Decided May 23, 2025 · appeal from Mills County · Government
What the court decided
AI summary Several employees sued their employer, claiming they were wrongfully fired for trying to protect residents from abuse and mistreatment. The court upheld a lower court's decision to dismiss the employees' claims. This means the employees were not permitted to move forward with their lawsuit regarding wrongful termination.1
Result: Affirmed
The court’s own summary
Plaintiffs Kelly Brodie and other employees of Glenwood Resource Center (collectively, “Brodie”) appeal from a district court’s order granting summary judgment against Brodie’s wrongful termination in violation of public policy claim. Brodie argues Iowa, federal, and international law all provide clear and well-recognized public policies against the abuse of GRC residents, and that they were wrongfully terminated for attempting to protect GRC residents from excessive hydration, overuse of restraints, and other abuses.
Holding: Five employees appeal a district court decision granting summary judgment against the employees’ wrongful-discharge claims. Affirmed.
Judges
- Written by Justice Edward M. Mansfield
- Trial judge: Craig M. Dreismeier, Mills County
Iowa Code it cites
§217.30§218.4§22.3§22.8§225C.1§225C.28A§225C.28B§230A.101§231C.1§70A.28§730.5§79.28
Each links to the bills that change that chapter.