Goebel v. City of Cedar Rapids

McCORMICK, Justice.

We granted this interlocutory appeal to decide whether persons who receive benefits under Code chapter 411 are barred from maintaining a tort action against the city based on the same injury. Chapter 411 provides comprehensive disability and pension benefits for firemen and policemen under civil service as well as accidental death benefits for their beneficiaries. Plaintiffs are the estate representatives, wives and children of two firemen who were killed in a water rescue training exercise in Cedar Rapids in 1976. The widows and children received statutory death benefits…