Former Comp Chief Drops Governor From Discrimination Complaint

Friday, May 17, 2019 | 0

Former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey dropped Gov. Kim Reynolds as a defendant in his complaint alleging retaliation for sexual orientation or political party affiliation.

Chris Godfrey

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Godfrey’s attorney said Reynolds had “very little to do with any issue on the case.”

Godfrey is seeking between $6 million to $10 million in damages for emotional distress, the Courier reports. He is also seeking punitive damages of three times actual damages.

Former Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, asked Godfrey, a Democrat, to resign in 2011. The governor reportedly said he wanted to install a more business-friendly commissioner.

Godfrey refused to resign, after which his pay was cut by 35%. He claims he was the target of discrimination because he is openly gay, a fact the former governor said he was not aware of at the time. At the same time, Godfrey says he was discriminated against because of his political affiliation.