Transgender woman sues the State of Iowa, alleges numerous acts of defamation and rights violations by public officials

by Sondra Wilson. Posted 8/8/2024.  Updated 8/21/2024.

A quick, important message:

     At first reading the below content may seem overwhelming. There is a lot of information, especially if you are unfamiliar with legal terms or courtroom proceedings. I have done my best to to make things as simple as possible! The various sections of my petition are broken into separate articles, and legal terms and sections of the Iowa Code referenced throughout contain links so you can read the legal definition or read that section of the Code. If anything below seems too technical, I recommend just keep reading and try to make your way through the article. This is a very important case for all Iowans – especially with regard to challenging parts of the Iowa Code as unconstitutional. It is also very important for civil rights, because I am seeking to halt the State’s plan to shut down the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. There is a lot more to the suit besides these two things. Thank you for reading and for sharing this link with anyone or any organization you think might be interested. The biggest support I need right now is financial support as I continue working on this full time. Ways to donate are at the bottom of the page.

 

Latest Update – August 9th hearing:

    There was a hearing at the Polk County Historic Courthouse on Friday, August 9. The purpose of the hearing was to decide if the court would grant the State’s motion to dismiss, or if my suit will move forward to trial. If the suit moves forward, there will likely be another hearing to determine whether or not part of the suit will be certified as a class action. I will update this webpage as soon as I know more!

  Prior to the hearing, Wild Willpower put out a Call to Action for Civil Rights!! I am so thankful for the 12 or so supporters who came to the courthouse to witness and show support! The fact that there were concerned faces in the audience likely spoke volumes to the Court.

   Assistant Attorney General Christopher Deist argued in favor of dismissing the case. KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA has not responded to repeated attempts wherein I have attempted service, so they were not represented. On August 20 I mailed a Notice of Intent to File Application for Default to all three parties listed on KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA’s DR-1 Form.

     His Honorable Judge Michael Huppert began by informing us that he has not finished reading our filings, and assuring us that he would carefully do so.

    Following Mr. Deist’s argument as to why this should be dismissed, I was given ~30-40 min to present my counterarguments, most of which were presented in the the resistance I filed (a resistance is a filing wherein a party argues why the adverse party’s motion ought not be granted).

     After arguments were given, Judge Huppert allowed me a request: I told him that if he feels it necessary, as a matter of law, to dismiss my case on the face of the pleadings, to instead to provide me time to amend my pleadings “as justice demands”, in accordance with Iowa. R. Civ. 1.402. He assured me he will take my request into consideration.

    Several members of the court’s audience agreed afterward that Judge Huppert showed signs he was genuinely listening – his eyebrows raising at times, and concern being heard in his voice. He seemed to get a rise out of an analogy about the story of Jesus and the Pharisees, and how the State sounded a lot like the Pharisees. I argued that the “spirit of the law doctrine” – which Iowa courts recognize (e.g. Case v. Olson) – demands this case move forward.

     Following the hearing, I requested a copy of the transcript from Court Reporter Lindsay Beni. It is crucial that I review the transcript to make sure everything that was said was entered into the record. If not, I need to alert the court asap. I know this can be an issue because following my trial at Standing Rock, when I ordered a copy of the transcript, key legal terms were suspiciously omitted! For example, the word “treaty” was omitted. That is a huge omission considering much of the case had to do with the Horse Creek Treaty! I was recently given a generous donation from a fellow Iowan to help me order the transcript, and will do so on Monday 8/19/24.

    I will provide an update here as soon as Judge Huppert issues a ruling!

 

Latest Filings:

    After originally filing a petition to commence the suit on February 8, on July 23 I filed this much more in-depth Amended Petition.  On July 26 the State filed a this motion to dismiss, and on August 5 I filed this resistance. This suit is both “at law and at equity”; in other words, I am seeking both money damages and “reasonable demands” (in the form of injunctions) as redress. The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees “The right of The People to Peaceably to Assemble… and to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.”  Thank you, Veterans and Officers, for our safety and for protecting our First Amendment rights and our Fifth Amendment right to due process!!

 

A 4-part lawsuit and an adjacent suit:

1. 2006-2009: Story Cty. and Ames City officials caused me to remain homeless for 8 years – there are three parts to this story. I have not updated these in awhile. The third part is described, with links to legal term definitions that should help you quickly comprehend what the case is about.

 

2. 2018-2023: When I returned to Iowa, State officials defamed and enacted rights violations against transgender people – the State passed HF766 which included a last-minute provision added by Republicans in order to cut of access to medically-necessary procedures for transgender Iowans. Governor Reynolds performed multiple acts of defamation against transgender people, in both her official and unofficial capacity, throughout the duration the State fought to continue depriving transgender people from accessing healthcare. I have requested this part of the lawsuit to be certified as a class action on behalf of transgender Iowans. It includes allegations against Kim Reynolds’ campaign committee, “KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA“, due to defamation against transgender people used to promise Iowans, “I’m the candidate who will go after transgender people!” I allege unjust enrichment by Reynolds’ campaign  for earning more than $2.5 million dollars while using defamation and promises of rights violations against transgender Iowans in order to gain the wealth in a manner which harmed a vulnerable population who is explicitly protected by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

 

3. 2021-2024: I sued two Ames, Iowa businesses for discrimination and fraud – This is a separate lawsuit which gave rise to several of the my claims against the state. After filing a discrimination complaint against the businesses within the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, respondents retaliated against me via submitting numerous false accusations against me alongside a falsified document in order to convince the Commission not to investigate, and to punish me for coming forward.

 

4. 2022-2024: The State’s response to my civil rights complaint led to Wilson v STATE OF IOWA – I showed the Iowa Civil Rights Commission hard evidence respondents had lied to them, however still the Commission chose not to investigate. The Commission’s website, under “outline of a complaint process page“, says, “if there is a reasonable possibility of probable cause determination, the complaint will be ‘screened in’“, however in practice this does not appear to be remotely true – read their Google reviews and the Des Moines Register articles “Iowa should stop tilting the scales in civil rights cases” and “60% of Iowa workers’ civil rights complaints aren’t investigated“. After the Commission closed my case and chose not to investigate, the Ames Police Department and Story County Atty’s Office refused to allow me to file a complaint against the respondents for violation of Iowa Code §714.8(4), “[A]ny person who makes any entry in… any public records… knowing the same to be false,” is guilty of fraud. (Records generated by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission are “public records” according to § 22.1.) I filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman to review the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s determination, and they sent me Iowa Supreme Court 1979 ruling Estabrook v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which held that the Commission is under no obligation to screen in a case for investigation even when there is prima facie evidence of discrimination. My suit alleges fraudulent misrepresentation by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission: if they are under no obligation to screen in cases, write that on the website. Do not mislead Iowa’s taxpayers and victims of discrimination who come to you for help via stating that “if there is a reasonable possibility of probable cause” you “will” investigate. There are other parts to this section of the suit with regard to the State’s response which amounts to “aiding and abetting businesses who discriminate”; click the above title to read the unabridged version.

 

5. My suit seeks to halt State’s Plan to close the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and instead improve its process – approximately 2 months after I filed suit, alleging fraudulent misrepresentation by the Commission and requesting 5 reforms to make the manner they process complaints effective, the State eliminated the Commission altogether, turning it into a mere “advisory panel”. Where will people of color and people with disabilities, women who experience sex-based discrimination, and LGBT+ go when they experience discrimination?? My suit alleges violations of 18 USC § 241 Conspiracy against rights and Iowa’s Ongoing Criminal Conduct Act (racketeering) by the State of Iowa, and requests a cease and desist order from the State to prevent the State from attempting to undermine, eliminate and/or make ineffective the current civil rights laws that are in place.

 

Latest Updates:

July 9: Following numerous filings, Judge Gronewald steps down – Judge Gronewald is on record for donating to Republican candidates for years prior to being appointed by Governor Reynolds. Following 4 court filings and two complaints to the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission (who didn’t do their job), Judge Gronewald stepped down. I threatened to sue the state for more if she didn’t recuse, in violation of my “right to a fair trial”.

Aug. 5: I challenged sections of Iowa Code as unconstitutional; awaiting the courts ruling – within my resistance, I challenged Iowa Code §669.14 as unconstitutional. The section denies redress to Citizens harmed by government officials or agencies in the following manner:

    • violating rights via enforcing invalid (e.g. unconstitutional, abusive) statutes or regulations; abuse of discretion; assault; battery; false imprisonment; false arrest; malicious prosecution; abuse of process; libel; slander; misrepresentation; deceit; interference with contract rights; detention of any goods or merchandise; any claim filed by an inmate.

Aug. 5: I challenged the State of Iowa’s legal defense of “sovereign immunity” as unconstitutional; awaiting ruling – originally implemented by King Edward I, the malicious defense of sovereign immunity was based on the premise that “a king can do no wrong”. I quoted John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Alexander Hamilton in my filing, statements wherein they personally lambasted this unconstitutional, non-American abuse of state power. I also pointed out that the 11th Amendment has nothing written in it about sovereign immunity even though it is often cited on the internet as providing immunity from lawsuits to states.


 

 

“I hope I’m helping to interrupt the other terrible agenda from that alternate timeline some people have been trying to make happen! In fact I hope that other timeline just doesn’t exist at all anymore. Screw that timeline! All Iowans need this lawsuit whether they realize it or not! United We Stand!” – Sondra, with related GIF I totally feel:

Special thanks to TheLostSmiles, Marvel, Benedict Cumberpatch, and anyone who was part of this project for the amazing relevant GIF I am utilizing for First Amendment purposes in accordance with in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Office’s Fair Use policy.

 

To Donate:

     There is still a long road ahead, not only with regard to legal filings and preparing for trial, but also in continuing to develop this webpage and related articles, and performing outreach to hopefully find more (accurate) media coverage. If you would like to donate toward my continued efforts, it would be greatly appreciated. This is an overtime job with no pay, but it is obviously very important and bigger than myself.

Venmo = @Sondra-Wilson-777

Paypal = [email protected]

 

Sondra standing by Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle on February 23, 2024 during DMACC’s London Abroad program: *

DISCLAIMER: Neither Des Moines Area Community College (“DMACC”) nor DMACC’s London Abroad program are in any way affiliated with Wild Willpower PAC or Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor. Sondra graduated from DMACC with Honors in spring 2024, and transferred to ISU to earn her bachelor’s in entrepreneurship in fall 2024.