Matthew Hunter $2.6M Disability Discrimination Verdict Remanded for Retrial
Summary
The Iowa Supreme Court granted further review in Matthew Lewis Hunter v. City of Des Moines, involving a $2,615,231.35 disability discrimination verdict against the City. The Court of Appeals had reversed the award, holding that an erroneous jury instruction on stereotypes tainted the verdict and that the failure-to-accommodate claim failed as a matter of law. The case has been remanded for retrial on the disability discrimination claim, with dismissal ordered for the failure-to-accommodate claim. Both parties sought further review—the City arguing Hunter was not qualified to serve as an officer, and Hunter arguing the evidence supported the accommodation finding and the jury instruction was proper.
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GovPing monitors Iowa Supreme Court for new courts & legal regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 47 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Court of Appeals reversed the $2,615,231.35 jury verdict in favor of former Des Moines Police Sergeant Matthew Hunter, finding that an erroneous jury instruction on employer liability for discriminatory motives "they do not acknowledge or realize" tainted the disability discrimination verdict and required a new trial. The appellate court also dismissed Hunter's failure-to-accommodate claim, holding that an excuse for prior misconduct is not a reasonable accommodation under Iowa law. Both the City and Hunter filed applications for further review with the Iowa Supreme Court. Affected employers in Iowa should note that discriminatory motive standards in jury instructions must be carefully crafted to accurately reflect Iowa Civil Rights Act standards, and that accommodation requests cannot be satisfied by simply excusing prior misconduct.
Archived snapshot
Apr 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Case No. 24-0735
Matthew Lewis Hunter
v.
City of Des Moines, Iowa; and Des Moines Police Bargaining Unit, Jane Doe No. 1, John Doe No. 2, John Doe No. 3, John Doe No. 4, and John Doe No. 5
Former Des Moines Police Department sergeant Matthew Hunter sued the City of Des Moines for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. A jury awarded $2,615,231.35 in damages, and the district court denied the City’s post-trial motions. The court of appeals reversed the denial of the City’s post-trial motion, holding that an erroneous jury instruction on stereotypes tainted the jury’s verdict with respect to the disability discrimination claim and that the failure to accommodate claim failed as a matter of law. It remanded for retrial on Mr. Hunter’s disability discrimination claim and for dismissal of his failure-to-accommodate claim. Both the City and Mr. Hunter filed applications for further review. The City contends the court of appeals erred when it didn’t hold as a matter of law Mr. Hunter was not qualified to serve as a police officer with or without an accommodation. Mr. Hunter argues the court of appeals erred because (1) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that the City failed to accommodate him and (2) the trial court’s jury instruction regarding stereotypes was proper.
County: Polk Trial Court Case No.: LACL152725
Appellee
Matthew Lewis Hunter
Appellant
City of Des Moines, Iowa; and Des Moines Police Bargaining Unit, Jane Doe No. 1, John Doe No. 2, John Doe No. 3, John Doe No. 4, and John Doe No. 5
Attorneys for the Appellee
David R. Albrecht
Kellie L. Paschke
Attorneys for the Appellant
Michelle R. Mackel-Wiederanders
Luke DeSmet
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
15-15-5
Feb 19, 2026 9:00 AM
Briefs
Appellant Reply Brief (242.52 KB)
Further Review Application--City of DSM (680.17 KB)
Further Review Application--Hunter (888.58 KB)
Resistance to Further Review (345.48 KB)
Resistance to Further Review--Appellant (250.38 KB)
Supreme Court Opinion
Opinion Number:
24-0735
Date Published:
Apr 24, 2026
PDF of the Opinion (225.75 KB)
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
24-0735
Date Published:
Oct 01, 2025
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Paul D. Scott, Judge. REVERSED AND REMANDED . Heard at oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Greer, Ahlers, Badding, and Sandy, JJ. Opinion by Badding, J. Dissent by Sandy, J. (37 pages)
The City of Des Moines appeals the denial of its motions for new trial and judgment notwithstanding the verdict after trial on Matthew Hunter’s claims for disability discrimination and failure-to-accommodate. OPINION HOLDS: While we find substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict on Hunter’s discrimination claim, we agree that Hunter failed to establish his accommodation claim. An excuse for prior misconduct is not a reasonable accommodation. Furthermore, because the district court incorrectly instructed the jury that employers are liable for discriminatory motives they “do not acknowledge or realize,” we must remand for new trial on Hunter’s discrimination claim. We vacate the district court’s attorney fee award. DISSENT ASSERTS: Because Hunter requested an accommodation and the City proceeded to terminate him rather than explore further options and because Instruction 26 does not misstate Iowa law, I respectfully dissent.
PDF of the Opinion (340.36 KB)
Other Information
Date Further Review is Granted:
Dec 04, 2025 View archived opinions from prior to November 2017
© 2026 Iowa Judicial Branch. All Rights Reserved.
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