- Preliminary hearings on motions in October–November 2025.
- Discovery battles over whether online posts caused “disruption” sufficient to justify firings.
- Potential appeals to federal courts, raising broader First Amendment questions about social media speech by public employees.
The outcome could establish precedent for how far schools and public employers can go in disciplining staff for online commentary, particularly in moments of national crisis.
Sources
- Complaint of Matthew Kargol (Iowa District Court, filed Sept. 2025) — PDF
- Complaint of Lauren Vaughn (South Carolina Court, filed Sept. 2025) — PDF
- Oskaloosa School District termination statement (Sept. 17, 2025)
- River Ridge Elementary termination confirmation (Sept. 15, 2025)
- Des Moines Register(Sept. 2025 coverage of Iowa case)
🛑 It should be noted that the assertions in these lawsuits are merely allegations and have not been proven in a court of law.
