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Alan F. McDonell M. Lee Curran; and Sally Phipps Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated Appellees
vs.
Susan Hunter; Jean Sebek; Russell Behrends and Harold Farrier Appellants
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Issues:
Fourth Amendment, public employees, reasonable suspicion
Case Summary:
Alan McDonell, an officer with the Iowa Department of Corrections, joins other officers in a class-action suit that challenges the constitutionality of the department's anti-drug policy. Under the program, department employees are subject to drug and alcohol tests and their private vehicles are searched by state officials. McDonell was terminated after he refused to participate in a drug test. He was reinstated but transferred to another facility and lost pay for 10 days. Other employees also refused to participate in the drug tests.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa determined that the department's policy was in order, but instructed the state to limit searches to cases involving reasonable suspicion. McDonell now appeals.
Outcome:
McDonell loses. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit affirmed the decision of the lower court.