Commission to enter closed session on contested case after competing attorney statements on damages

The Davenport Civil Rights Commission voted Jan. 13, 2026, to enter closed session to deliberate on contested case EDash0118Dash0002Dash15 after hearing competing statements on damages from counsel for both sides.

Before the closed session, Julia Adams identified herself as "the attorney for the school district" and asked the commission to adopt an outcome consistent with the administrative law judge’s decision that there are no available damages. Adams told the commission that, "in the event that this commission decides otherwise ... we would ask that they be awarded in a realistic amount, based on the actual facts of this case, which is really just a matter of 1 day that there was an accommodation allegedly not provided, rather than any sort of ongoing systematic discrimination." Adams urged the commission to follow filings already submitted.

Fred Sankovich, who said he represents Mr. Moore and Ms. Harris, directly disputed respondents’ counsel and told the commission the conduct "is not just a 1 off event. It is a continuing systematic discriminatory action," and argued that the damages requested by the complaints are "perfectly reasonable" given the history he described.

After those public statements the chair moved to go into closed session "pursuant to our code 21.5 ... to discuss the decision to render in a contested case proceeding conducted according to the provisions of chapter 17a." The motion was seconded, put to roll call and carried; Commissioners recorded 'yes' votes in the roll call recorded on the transcript. The public portion of the meeting paused while the commission met in closed session.

The transcript does not record the commission's deliberations or any final decision on damages because those matters were discussed in closed session. The public portion of the transcript ends with staff managing virtual breakout rooms and the commission moving into closed session.