The Fort Dodge City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session Monday ahead of the regular meeting.
The special closed session is scheduled to begin at 5:30PM, just ahead of the 6:00PM regular meeting. The agenda calls for a lone motion to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c) to discuss matters presently in litigation.
At the regularly scheduled meeting, tucked into the consent agenda is “A motion to resolve all issues in litigation involving case No. 25-cv-3004-CJW for $40,000 as recommended by and paid by the City’s insurance carrier solely to avoid the costs, expenses, and attorney fees of ongoing litigation and not because there was any wrongdoing on the part of the City, any officer, or anyone else with the City. All alleged wrongdoing will be expressly denied in the settlement documents to be signed by the Plaintiffs.”
Case number 3:25-cv-03004-CJW is referencing Benedict et al v. Walker et al. In that case, a local couple alleged misconduct by a Fort Dodge Police Officer. The claim was originally filed in District Court of Iowa, but was later moved to United State District Court.
In 2024, Webster County also entered into a settlement recommended and paid for by the County’s insurance. Such actions are often advantageous when all options are weighed.
