Case: Furry v. City of Polk City, Iowa

4:25-cv-00501 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Filed Date: Dec. 17, 2025

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Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

On December 17, 2025, a Polk City paramedic filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa against the City of Polk City, Iowa. Plaintiff challenges her firing, which she claims resulted from her Facebook posts about conservative leader Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72050541/parties/furry-v-city-of-polk-city-iowa/


Judge(s)

Rose, Stephanie Marie (Iowa)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Albrecht, David Ronald (Iowa)

Beck, Amy Rachelle (Iowa)

Griffin, Ashley Lynn (Iowa)

Attorney for Defendant

Tharnish, Deborah M. (Iowa)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

No documents yet available via the Clearinghouse.

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72050541/furry-v-city-of-polk-city-iowa/

Last updated March 19, 2026, 11:24 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

NOTICE OF REMOVAL by City of Polk City, Iowa, Chelsea Huisman, Jeremy Siepker from Iowa District Court for Polk County, case number LACL164600. Filing fee paid in the amount of $ 405, receipt number AIASDC-5898156., filed by City of Polk City, Iowa, Chelsea Huisman, Jeremy Siepker. Rule 16 Notice of Dismissal set for 2/17/2026. (Attachments: # 1 State Court Pleadings, # 2 State Court Notice of Removal, # 3 LR 81 Statement)(Tharnish, Deborah) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

2

Answer to Complaint (Notice of Removal) by City of Polk City, Iowa, Chelsea Huisman, Jeremy Siepker.(Tharnish, Deborah) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

3

PROPOSED SCHEDULING ORDER AND DISCOVERY PLAN . (Griffin, Ashley) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

4

Joint MOTION for Protective Order by Alissa Furry.Motions referred to Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. Responses due by 1/26/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Joint Proposed Protective Order)(Griffin, Ashley) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

5

TEXT ORDER granting 4 Joint Motion for Protective Order. The court will enter a protective order in the form submitted with the motion except for paragraph 2 which has been redacted in part. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 1/13/2026. (jeb) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

6

PROTECTIVE ORDER. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 1/13/2026. (jeb) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

Protective Order

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

7

TEXT ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE: A Scheduling Conference will be held by video on February 3, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. before Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. A link to join the video conference will be emailed to counsel. Recording or broadcasting of the video conference is prohibited. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 1/16/2026. (jeb) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

Order (Seal Entry Optional) AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

8

TEXT ORDER CHANGING DATE OF SCHEDULING CONFERENCE: Due to changes to the Court's calendar, the Scheduling Conference will be held by video on February 4, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. A link to join the video conference will be emailed to counsel. Recording or broadcasting of the video conference is prohibited. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 2/2/2026. (jeb) (Entered: 02/02/2026)

Feb. 2, 2026

Feb. 2, 2026

Order (Seal Entry Optional) AND ~Util - Set Hearings

Feb. 2, 2026

Feb. 2, 2026

9

TEXT MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr.: Scheduling Conference held on 2/4/2026. Attorney Amy Beck appeared for plaintiff. Attorneys Deborah Tharnish & Spencer Willems appeared for defendants. Scheduling order to be entered. Court Time: 5 minutes. (jeb) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

10

SCHEDULING AND TRIAL SETTING ORDER. Initial Disclosures due by 2/13/2026. Motions to Add Parties due by 3/9/2026. Motions to Amend Pleadings due by 3/9/2026. Plaintiff Expert Witness Disclosures due by 4/10/2026. Defendants Expert Witness Disclosures due by 6/10/2026. Plaintiff Rebuttal Expert Witness Disclosures due by 7/10/2026. Discovery Deadline 9/9/2026. Dispositive Motion Deadline 10/2/2026. Final Pretrial Conference set for 3/25/2027 at 11:00 a.m. in Des Moines Courthouse Room 520 before Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. Jury Trial set to begin 4/19/2027 at 9:00 a.m. in Des Moines Courthouse Room 510 before Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose. Estimated length 5 days. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 2/4/2026. (jeb) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

11

ORDER REGARDING FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE REQUIREMENTS. See order for particulars and deadlines. Signed by Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. on 2/4/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Form for FPO)(jeb) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

Scheduling Conference

Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

12

Withdrawal of Attorney by Ashley Lynn Griffin. (Griffin, Ashley) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

13

TEXT ORDER SETTING REMOTE STATUS CONFERENCE for 2/20/2026 at 10:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams to discuss logistics of court sponsored settlement conference. Counsel shall join over video via Webex, with meeting ID: 2302 554 4540 and password: iasd-hca. Photographing, recording, or broadcasting of any judicial proceedings, including proceedings held by remote conference, is strictly and absolutely prohibited. Signed by Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams on 2/17/2026. (nam) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

Setting Status Conference(s)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

14

Text Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams: Status Conference held on 2/20/2026. Attorney Beck appeared on behalf of plaintiff. Attorney Willems appeared on behalf of defendants. Order setting settlement conference to follow. Total Court Time: 7 minutes. (nam) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

15

ORDER setting Settlement Conference for 3/31/2026 at 09:00 AM in Des Moines - Room 540 - 5th Floor Northwest before Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams. See order for pariculars. Signed by Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams on 2/20/2026. (nam) (Main Document 15 replaced to correct typos in dates on 3/9/2026) (k). (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

16

ORDER REGARDING PERMISSION TO BRING ELECTRONIC DEVICES INTO THE COURTHOUSE FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE. See order for particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge Helen C. Adams on 2/20/2026. (nam) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

Status Conference

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

17

NOTICE by Alissa Furry Notice of Change of Address and Contact Information. (Beck, Amy) (Entered: 03/02/2026)

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

18

NOTICE of Appearance by David Ronald Albrecht on behalf of Alissa Furry (Albrecht, David) (Entered: 03/02/2026)

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Iowa

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 17, 2025

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Southern District of Iowa 4:25-cv-00501

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation