Sharon K. Malheiro

CONCENTRATION

Sharon Malheiro is a senior shareholder and past president of the board of directors at the Davis Brown Law Firm. As a member of the firm's Litigation Division, she practices in the area of employment law, including employment discrimination litigation, EEO/AA, and corporate employment policies and practices. She also practices in the area of media and communications law, including open records and open meetings litigation as well as defamation defense actions.

Sharon is an advocate for civil rights issues relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. She was appointed by the Iowa Supreme Court to serve as a member of the Iowa Supreme Court's Task Force on Gender and Racial Bias in the Judicial System. After the completion of the Task Force's report, she was asked to serve as a member of the Iowa Supreme Court's Monitoring Committee, which was charged with the duty to ensure that the recommendations made by the Task Force were implemented. In addition, she provides pro bono legal counsel for the Aids Project of Central Iowa, and is one of the cooperating attorneys for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Sharon is admitted to practice in Iowa, the United States District Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and the Eighth Circuit.

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

• Sak v. City of Aurelia, United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, successfully defended the Americans with Disabilities Act against breed-specific legislation by obtaining a permanent settlement agreement allowing a disabled man to keep his "pit bull" service dog.  

• Gartner v. Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa District Court for Polk County, co-counsel with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund obtained a court order requiring the state's Department of Public Health to issue a birth certificate for a child born to a same-sex couple that lists both spouses as parents in reliance on their marriage and the spousal presumption of parentage it creates. In May 2013, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled Iowa parents in same-sex marriages must be allowed to have both of their names listed on their child’s birth certificate, consistent with Iowa’s spousal presumption of parentage.
• Buntemeyer v. Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa District Court for Polk County, co-counsel with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, seeking a court order requiring the state's Department of Public Health to issue a death certificate for a stillborn child of a married same-sex couple, listing both spouses as parents in reliance on their marriage and the spousal presumption of parentage it creates. 
• Varnum v. Brien, the Iowa District Court for Polk County and Iowa Supreme Court, expert witness for Plaintiff's in landmark case declaring Iowa Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.
• Alons v. Iowa District Court, Iowa Supreme Court, co-counsel with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, upheld a district court decision dissolving the civil union of a same-sex couple who received a civil union in Vermont. 
• Mackie v. US Manufacturing, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, summary judgment for employer in sexual harassment case. 
• Iowa Protection and Advocacy, Inc. v. Gerard of Iowa, United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, preliminary injunction allow Iowa Protection and Advocacy access to a psychiatric medical facility for children to undertake a death investigation regarding the illegal use of restraints.
• Young v. Titan Tire, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, jury verdict for employer in a sexual and race discrimination case. 
• Mitchell v. Iowa Protection and Advocacy, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, summary judgment for employer in a retaliation claim.
• Brummett v. Taylor, United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a defamation case in favor of the defendant. Upheld on appeal to the Eighth Circuit Appeals Court.
• Buss v. Titan Tire, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, verdict for employer in an age discrimination case.
• Kooyman v. Firstar Bank, United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, summary judgment for employer in a disability discrimination case.
• Maxwell v. Fisher Controls, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, summary judgment for employer in a race discrimination case.
• Rivas v. Titan Wheel International, United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, summary judgment for employer in a race discrimination case.
• Viles v. Iowa State Daily Publications Board, Iowa District Court for Story County, summary judgment for defendant on claim of defamation.
• Pearson v. Titan Tire, Inc., Iowa District Court for Polk County, ruling for employer in case of age discrimination.
• Steigel v. Holmes Murphy and Associates, Inc., Iowa District Court for Polk County, verdict for employer in breach of contract case. Upheld on appeal.
• Christensen v. Wright Tree Service, Inc., Iowa District Court for Polk County, summary judgment for employer in case of age discrimination.
• Hawkeye Communication, Inc. v. Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Iowa District Court for Montgomery County, received a ruling finding that the county violated Iowa's open meetings statute. Upheld on appeal.
• Des Moines Register v. Central Iowa Employment Training, Iowa District Court for Polk County, receiving a ruling that defendant governmental board did not violate Iowa's open meetings statute.