Clifford J. Watkins, III
v.
City of Des Moines, Pat Kozitza, John Desio, and Tony Chiodo
Appellant
Clifford J. Watkins, III
Appellee
City of Des Moines, Pat Kozitza, John Desio, and Tony Chiodo
Attorney for the Appellant
Matthew R. Denning
Attorney for the Appellee
John O. Haraldson, Assistant City Attorney
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Samantha Gronewald, Judge. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Mullins and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, P.J. (16 pages)
Clifford J. Watkins III sued the City of Des Moines and three of its administrators. He raised claims of racial discrimination in promotions and hostile work environment. The district court granted the city’s motion for summary judgment. Watkins asks us to reverse the summary judgment and remand for trial. OPINION HOLDS: Because Watkins offered evidence that two of three members of the interview panel made statements arguably showing racial animus, he generated a jury question on the city’s motivation in turning him down for a promotion. We reverse the summary judgment on that claim. Because Watkins did not create a genuine issue of material fact that “discriminatory intimidation, ridicule and insult” permeated his workplace, the city was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the hostile work environment claim. We thus affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
