Former Johnson County Executive Director Files Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
More than a year after being dismissed from his role as executive director of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, Guillermo Morales has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in the U.S.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and names Johnson County, Supervisors Rod Sullivan, Lisa Green-Douglass, and former supervisor Royceann Porter as defendants.
Claims Made by Morales
- His termination was partly based on his identity as a Latino man.
- He faced retaliation for supporting a supervisor's campaign and a censure vote against the county attorney.
- The defendants made defamatory statements about him and conspired against him.
Procedural Background
Morales filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which issued a right-to-sue letter on September 4, 2024. The lawsuit was officially filed on Tuesday.
Board of Supervisors' Vote and Dissent
- Sullivan, Green-Douglass, and Porter voted to immediately terminate Morales's employment.
- Supervisors V Fixmer-Oraiz and Jon Green dissented, arguing the action violated county procedures and proposed placing Morales on a performance improvement plan instead.
The dissenting supervisors stated that Morales should be allowed to continue working while on a performance improvement plan.
Author’s summary: Guillermo Morales is suing Johnson County for wrongful termination, alleging discrimination and retaliation after his firing and citing procedural irregularities in the county supervisors' decision.