Iowa Judge Dismisses Right-Wing Activist’s $87 Million Drag Show Lawsuit

Iowa 8th District Court Judge Shawn Showers dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kimberly Reicks—a well-known Iowa right-wing activist that advised Gov. Kim Reynolds on school issues—who sought $87 million from the Ankeny School District over a drag show.

“The Court has reviewed the filings in this matter. None of the Plaintiff’s filings remotely comply with the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure for commencement of actions,” Showers wrote, according to a Monday court filing. “Accordingly, the Court takes no further action and directs the Clerk of Court to notify the Court Service Judge when dismissal is ripe for lack of notice and failure to prosecute claim.”

The 40-year-old Ankeny resident, part of the “Iowa Mama Bear” duo who claims partial credit for Reynolds signing a bill that prevents Iowa schools from requiring masking, represented herself in the lawsuit that was filed in Mahaska County, about 70 minutes southeast of Ankeny.

Reicks sued the Ankeny School District, superintendent Eric Pruitt, the school board, and several teachers connected to a May 2022 after-school drag show put on by Ankeny High School’s Gay Straight Alliance.

In her bizarrely filed suit, Reicks broke down why she should be paid $87,035,000 by the Ankeny School District over an invite-only after-school drag show that she nor her children attended and that was not officially sanctioned by the school district.

Showers’ dismissal means that Reicks will not see a dime of the millions she sought nor recoup the $195 she paid to file her suit.

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This was not the only legal news involving Reicks this week. 

Also on Monday, Reicks was sentenced to a year of probation in lieu of a one-year jail sentence after she made false sexual abuse allegations about the family of Emily Peterson of Ankeny, who was her former “Iowa Mama Bear” partner.

According to the Des Moines Register, “Reicks also must pay victim damages in an amount that is to be determined, participate in a reconciliation session if the victim chooses to, and pay $430 in fines with a surcharge.”

Lastly, a no-contact order Peterson filed against Reicks last year will remain in effect until March 20, 2028. In her initial filing for the no-contact order, Peterson wrote “Kimberly Reicks has increasingly threatened me and my family. She is a former business partner who threatened to ruin my life. I am afraid for my family’s safety.”

by Ty Rushing
03/21/23

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