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.
Stupid jury
More than a few gay liberals -jury/judges have to STICK TOGETER you all !
Are you drunk again? What are you trying to say?
good for him. im no lefty but i disliked branstadt. he just seems like a self absorbed fat fuc**n loser. which one of his family members did he get out of prison time again? his son or nephew? didnt they KILL someone while drunk?
BUMSTAD ruin our state before he left for china. I hope that SOB stays there and never comes back!
Good for you! We’re being robbed by these white collar peeps. Show me the money…now. Next get off the pot and legalize cannabis $$$
Yeah legalize cannabis. Then we can dodge loaded people while they are texting and driving.
why would there be more people driving high than there already are? why would iowa experience more dui when no other state that legalized has? you wanna bring numbers into this arguement youre going to look very foolish and very biased in short order. people dont go “OH MY GOD, POT IS LEGAL” and then devolve into the stereotypical anslinger pot demon you have created in your head. are you stupid or something?
Thanks Terry, even when your gone, tax payers continue to pay up for you. It pays to be in politics, education and gay.
*you’re
I do that sometimes, thanks.