Summary of Maury v. City of Des Moines

Phase 1: The Initial Lawsuit (2017)

• February 2017: Attorney James Craig Larew filed the original petition against the City of Des Moines for declaratory judgment and damages.
• Spring 2017: The plaintiffs asked for a temporary stop (injunction) against certain city actions, but Judge Arthur Gamble denied the request.
• Late 2017: The plaintiffs changed and updated their formal complaint multiple times by filing amended petitions.

Phase 2: Discovery and the Long Pause (2018–2023)

• Early 2018: Both sides began "discovery," which is the process of exchanging evidence, paperwork, and answering questions.
• August 2018: Judge Gamble ordered a total pause (stay) on the case. The local court decided to wait until the Iowa Supreme Court finished deciding other related cases.
• November 2019: After more than a year of waiting, the pause was lifted by Judge David Matthew Porter so the case could move forward.

Phase 3: The First Summary Judgment and Appeal (2020–2023)

• Early 2020: Both sides asked the judge to rule on the case early without a trial by filing motions for summary judgment.
• November 2021: Judge Scott Rosenberg ruled entirely in favor of the City of Des Moines, dismissing the plaintiffs' claims.
• March 2022: The plaintiffs officially appealed this decision to a higher court.
• July 2023: The Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion that "affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded" the case. This meant parts of the case were officially sent back to the local county court to be looked at again.

Phase 4: Class Certification and The Trial (2023–2026)

• July 2024: Judge Paul Scott approved the plaintiffs' request for "class certification". This legally turned the lawsuit into a class action representing a whole group of affected people.
• Early 2025: Many individuals officially chose to opt out and exclude themselves from the group lawsuit.
• June 2026: A full two-day bench trial was held before Judge Patrick Smith, leading to the current wait for a final verdict.

Maury v. City of Des Moines status

1. The Trial Has Taken Place

A non-jury bench trial was held over two days on June 8 and June 9, 2026, before Judge Patrick Smith. Both sides presented their evidence, and multiple items were officially marked as court exhibits.

2. Post-Trial Briefs Have Been Submitted

Following the trial, the defense (City of Des Moines) asked the court for permission to submit written arguments. Judge Smith granted the request and set a deadline of July 1, 2026.

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• On July 1, 2026, the plaintiffs' attorney (James Craig Larew) filed the Plaintiffs' Post-Trial Brief.
• On the same day, the defense attorney (Luke Michael DeSmet) filed the Defendant's Post-Trial Brief.
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3. Current Standing

As of the latest date on the printout (August 17, 2026), no new orders or final judgments have been entered since the briefs were submitted. The case is fully submitted, meaning the judge is currently reviewing all the trial evidence and post-trial arguments to write the final ruling.

If you want, I can help you summarize the history of the case leading up to the trial, or explain what specific laws and exhibits (like the Des Moines Municipal Code or Iowa Code) were brought up during the June trial. Let me know how you would like to proceed!

The living wage should be the floor, not the ceiling

The true cost of doing business includes paying workers enough to survive, and the true cost of a meal includes paying for the labor required to prepare and serve it. Ultimately, it emphasizes that a healthy society relies on a fair, equitable balance where no one is exploited.

• Business Viability: A business model that depends on poverty-level wages is fundamentally broken. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated when establishing early labor standards, Businesses must treat employee compensation as a core operating expense rather than an area to cut corners.
• Consumer Responsibility: Eating out is a premium service rather than a basic right. When patrons complain about menu prices, they are often objecting to the real cost of human labor. If a customer is unwilling or unable to cover the actual cost of having someone prepare and serve their food, dining at home is the more realistic alternative.
• Equitable Balance: An economically healthy community requires balance. For a society to thrive, employers must pay fairly, and consumers must pay the true value of the goods and services they enjoy. When businesses underpay their workers, society bears the burden through social services and public assistance, essentially subsidizing the businesses' low prices.

For deeper perspectives on the ethics of business compensation, you can explore the ongoing discussions on platforms like Reddit's WorkReform. [3]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1] https://gigafact.org/fact-briefs/did-fdr-aspire-all-workers-earn-living-wage/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/UPTECWA/posts/if-a-business-cant-survive-without-underpaying-its-workers-it-doesnt-deserve-to-/1435679985273762/

[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/1hssmv3/if_a_business_cant_afford_to_pay_a_living_wage/