Zimmerman sues county, officials
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Former Ringgold County Conservation Board Director Kate Zimmerman has filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against the county and a number of county employees and officials in federal court. Zimmerman filed the six count lawsuit on June 21 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Central Division.
Named as defendants in the action are Supervisors Ron Landphair, Colby Holmes, Steve Knapp and Randy Taylor; law enforcement officers Nathan Nickle and Marc Ridout; and Amanda Waske, Ringgold County Auditor.
- In Count I of the action, Zimmerman alleges a violation of Iowa Code 216.6, Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Age and Retaliation. County I is leveled against all the named defendants.
- Count II names all defendants of an alleged violation of Iowa Code 216.A, Equal Pay Discrimination.
- Count III against all defendants alleges violation of Iowa Code Section 216.11, Retaliation.
- Count IV alleges Sex Discrimination and Retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Count V alleges defamation against all the defendants.
- In Count VI, Zimmerman alleges malicious prosecution against Ridout, Nickle and Taylor and County
- Count VII accuses Ridout, Nickle, Holmes and Taylor of Abuse of Process against her.
Kate Zimmerman
Zimmerman began her duties in 2010 with the county and the conservation board, one of only 10 female conservation directors in the state of Iowa. Her duties were overseen by the Ringgold County Board of Supervisors.
Zimmerman singles out Supervisor Holmes “in a pattern of gender discrimination, sexual discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, sexual harassment, slander and defamation.”
Zimmerman claims Holmes fabricated and disseminated false information pertaining to her work ethic, character, competence and practice. She also alleges Holmes attempted to persuade Conservation Board Members Randy Bishop, Dale Walkup and Doug Frost to discipline or remove her from her position.
Zimmerman outlines a number of encounters with Holmes that she claims as the basis of her complaint against him. Zimmerman alleges Holmes intentionally assaulted her with his vehicle. She says she reported the incident to Sheriff’s Deputy Nickle but “he did not say anything or investigate the assault.”
Zimmerman claims that Holmes provided false information to law enforcement which resulted in her being charged with interference with official acts and making a false report to a public entity.
The charges stem from a December 5, 2022, incident at Poe Hollow Park when Zimmerman denied Ringgold County deputies and bomb technicians entrance to the facility to render safe an explosive device found earlier that morning.
Zimmerman alleges the defendants did this in retaliation for her earlier complaints of sex-based harassment and not to punish offenders who have legitimately committed such acts.
Zimmerman’s case was transferred to Adair County in April of 2023 where she says the charges are still pending with no clear intent by Ringgold County to bring her to court over a year later and refusal to dismiss the charges.
Zimmerman claims that due to a hostile work environment, she was constructively discharged by the defendants in February of 2023.
Zimmerman is seeking judgment against the defendants in an amount which would compensate her for her alleged injuries and damages (including past wages), for punitive damages to deter the defendants from similar conduct in the future, for the cost of bringing this action and any other relief that may be just.
Zimmerman, through her attorney Roxanne Conlin & Associates from Des Moines, are asking for a jury trial.
Ringgold County Attorney Clint Spurrier said Ringgold County has not yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment at this time.
Other Iowa news sources are also reporting on this lawsuit:
