County pays to settle civil rights complaint
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A signed settlement agreement between Ringgold County, Sheriff Rob Haley, and former county employee Elizabeth Jeanes has been released.
The agreement stems from a complaint filed by Jeanes with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.
No details regarding the original complaint were made available in the settlement document.
Ringgold County and Haley have denied and continue to deny the allegations included in the complaint.
Agreement language states “This agreement shall not be construed as an admission by the Defendants of any wrongdoing or any violation of any federal, state, or local statute or ordinance or any enforceable right of Jeanes. The Defendants specifically disclaim any wrongdoing whatsoever against Jeanes.”
However, the settlement states the “Parties now intend to resolve fully any and all disputes, claims, issues, and differences between them including, but not limited to, all claims alleged in the Complaint and, any and all other claims, demands or causes of action which arose prior to the effective date of this Agreement.”
The agreement calls for a total sum of $175,000, which will be divided as follows:
• a check payable to Jeanes for $5,000 designated as lost wages less taxes.
• a check payable to Fiedler Law Firm for $59,125.28 for attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs.
• a check payable to Jeanes for $110,874.72 designated as compensatory damages, including emotional distress.
All but the county’s $2,000 insurance deductible is covered by the Iowa Community Assurance Pool. The county must pay another $382.50 as employer taxes on the wage check.
As part of the agreement, Jeanes agrees not to seek employment directly with Ringgold County, with the exception of Ringgold County Hospital.
