City of Des Moines v. Civil Service Commission

McGIVERIN, Chief Justice.

The main question presented is whether a city civil service commission has jurisdiction to hear an appeal of a city firefighter discharged for a nondisciplinary reason. We believe the commission does have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal, and, therefore, we affirm the district court’s order annulling a writ of certiorari issued in connection with the City’s challenge to the commission’s jurisdiction.

I. Background facts and proceedings. The present dispute arises from the plaintiff City of Des Moines’ discharge of intervenor fire captain Jerry O. Smith from the Des…