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Supreme Court rules former DCI agent can’t seek additional damages in state lawsuit

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June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a law allowing for additional damages for whistleblowers cannot retroactively apply to a fired D-C-I agent.Larry Hedlund reported in 2013 an S-U-V he said was going 90 miles an hour on Highway 20. The S-U-V turned out to be carrying former Governor Terry Branstad and then Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. Hedlund was fired several days later.

His lawsuit against the state has continued, and he wanted to seek additional damages under the whistleblower law enacted six years after the incident. The Iowa Supreme Court says the law contains no statement that it should be used retrospectively and reversed the district court ruling that sided with Hedlund.