Iowa to Pay $600,000 in Wrongful Termination Settlement
The state of Iowa agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Polly Carver-Kimm, former Communications Director for the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Carver-Kimm claimed she was forced to resign after trying to comply with Iowa’s open records law.
Details of the Settlement and Lawsuit
The settlement was approved by the State Appeal Board on Wednesday with a 2-1 vote. Iowa officials did not admit to any wrongdoing by agreeing to the settlement.
Background of the Allegations
In her 2020 lawsuit, Polly Carver-Kimm stated she was pushed out of her position for fulfilling journalists’ public records requests. She had handled such requests for 13 years, which involved sending records to an assistant attorney general for review and redaction before release.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration sought to slow, stifle and otherwise divert the free flow of information to the media and public concerning the spread of COVID-19 and the state of Iowa’s response to the ongoing pandemic.”
Updated Statement
This story was updated at 8:55 p.m. on November 5 to include a statement from the governor's office.
Summary
Polly Carver-Kimm’s lawsuit highlights concerns over transparency during the pandemic, resulting in a significant settlement without formal admission of fault by Iowa officials.
Author’s summary: Iowa settles for $600,000 with former health communications director who claimed she was forced to resign for honoring public records laws during the COVID-19 pandemic response.