NEWTON – A gay, former state official who sued former Governor Terry Branstad in court for discrimination after Branstad slashed his salary has won $1.5 million from a jury in the case.
Monday, a jury awarded former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey $1.5 million. He was represented by Roxanne Conlin.
Branstad wanted Godfrey out after he was elected in 2010, asking him to resign, but Godfrey refused and his pay was dramatically slashed. Godfrey alleges in a lawsuit that Branstad wanted him out because he is gay. Branstad denied the claim, but a jury sided with Godfrey.
After the verdict was rendered Monday, Godfrey’s attorney, Conlin, said, “8 years, 2 appeals to the Iowa Sup Ct, millions of dollars in atty fees for the state to defend the indefensible. Chris Godfrey was victimized by Terry Branstad, retaliaited against when he refused to resign and deprived of the due process of law along the way. The jury saw the truth. However, we are not sure of the amount of the verdict. The press is reporting it as 1.5 million dollars and that is what the jury awarded, but there is some confusion because of the instructions. What it is for sure is vindication for a very brave gay man who stood up to the most powerful people in Iowa and wouldnt let go until he was done. Also I once again have to thank profusely my whole team who worked unbelievable hours night after night week after week. And especially Jean Mauss and Paige Fiedler who did a miraculous job when I had to go to the hospital. And stayed with me after I got back. It takes a village to get justice and we had the best one ever.”
Godfrey did eventually resign to take a job in Washington, DC as Chief Judge of the Appeal Board for Federal Workers Compensation.
