The Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion on January 30, 2026, affirming a Court of Appeals decision that upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit against Estherville Police Department officers, dealing a setback to ten plaintiffs who alleged misuse of confidential criminal data by law enforcement.

The case, *Victoria Abrahamson v. Benjamin Scheevel*, involved ten plaintiffs including Victoria Abrahamson, Hana Schroeder, Jody Schroeder, Terry Schroeder, Samantha Johnson, Bre Ahna Boggess, Rebecca Bates, Tawni Hanson, Darby Jones, and Hunter Miner. The State of Iowa also joined the lawsuit as a party.

The defendants included Officer Benjamin Scheevel, both individually and in his official capacity with the Estherville Police Department, Chief Brent Shatto in both individual and official capacities, the City of Estherville, Acadia Insurance Company, and an unnamed John Doe defendant.

The legal dispute centered on allegations that the police officers improperly accessed or disseminated confidential criminal history data and intelligence information in violation of Iowa Code section 692.6. However, the Supreme Court's ruling focused on procedural issues rather than the merits of these underlying claims.

The central issue in the case was whether the plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations under the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act. The district court initially denied the defendants' motion to dismiss, but the Court of Appeals reversed that decision, finding that the claims were indeed time-barred. The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed this dismissal, effectively ending the lawsuit.

The ruling demonstrates the importance of timely filing claims against municipal entities and highlights how statute of limitations defenses can bar otherwise valid claims when procedural deadlines are not met. While the court did not reach the substantive allegations regarding the misuse of confidential criminal data, the dismissal prevents the plaintiffs from pursuing their claims in court.