Larry Shawn Whitwer v. Civil Service Commission of the City of Sioux City, Iowa

MANSFIELD, Justice.

This case requires us to determine the enforceability of a so-called “last-chance agreement” entered into by a civil service employee. After a municipal firefighter pled guilty to domestic abuse assault, the municipality offered to discipline him with a short suspension instead of terminating his employment. However, in exchange, the municipality insisted that the firefighter agree to give the municipality discretion to terminate him immediately and without appeal if he violated the law again or violated the related no-contact order. The firefighter accepted the…