NORTHWOOD – A North Iowa woman has filed a lawsuit against the Worth County Development Authority in Worth County court.
According to its website, the Worth County Development Authority (WCDA) was formed in June of 2003. “Two educators, Gary Christensen and Steve Miller, from the North Iowa Area Community College, came up with the idea for a casino in Worth County,” the site says. The agency oversees grants to Worth County towns, schools and organizations from funds from the Diamond Jo Casino.
Roxanne Conlin out of Des Moines is representing Kimberly Koenigs in the lawsuit, which was filed on September 10th.
NIT has obtained a copy of the lawsuit.
Count 1 involves “retaliation in violation of public policy.”
Highlights of count 1: In 2012, Kimberly Koenigs filed a complaint against the WCDA and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Koenigs alleges retaliation from the defendants, listed as Dan Reeder, Joyce Russell, Gary Christiansen, Kenny Abrams, Dean Hendrickson, Roger Gentz and the WCDA itself. Koenigs alleges that the retaliation caused “severe trauma” and on June 25th, 2012, she was hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Mason City. The lawsuit states that Ken Abrams went to Mercy but didn’t visit Koenigs room ,and then spread a rumor that Koenigs was a “crazy person.” The lawsuit also states that defendant Russell tried to contact Koenigs at the hospital for “no legitimate purpose.”
Count 2 involves “tortious infliction of emotional distress.”
Highlights of count 2: In 2012, Koenigs filed a complaint against the WCDA with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC). The WCDA allegedly held a closed meeting to find out who made the complaint. After Koenigs was hospitalized and Abrams allegedly told other that Koenigs, was a “crazy person” Koenigs is claiming her reputation was irreparably harmed. Koenigs was locked out of the WCDA offices, allegedly, and her office voicemails were deleted. The lawsuit states that “all defendants have participated in excommunicating Plaintiff from the WCDA offices.” Meanwhile, the IRGC sent defendant Reeder a letter stating that any retaliation against Koenigs would have ramifications. Koenigs is claiming emotional distress and loss of wages and earning capacity and is seeking punitive damages.
Count 3 involves “tortious interference with business relations and prospective business advantage.”
Highlights of count 3: The lawsuit says that Kimberly Koenigs founded the WCDA in 2003 and that she served as Executive Director until June 25th, 2012 . In 2011, she signed a contract limiting her pay increases and benefits. The next year, Koenigs filed the complaint with the IRGC regarding the WCDA. The lawsuit says that three defendants (Abrams, Gentz and Reeder) were “upset and trying to figure out who made the complaint to the IRGC” and that they planned a meeting to discuss the complaint. Defendant Christiansen allegedly said that the purpose of the meeting was to make sure all the defendants had the “same line” to tell IRGC investigators. Defendant Reeder allegedly told Koenigs to call each defendant to tell them about the upcoming meeting and “defendant Reeder emphasized that (Koenig) was not to email anyone so that the IRGC would not be able to trace it.” The meeting was called a “workshop” so the public could not attend. Weeks later, Koenigs discovered she was locked out of the WCDA offices and could not enter the building. She also discovered that her work-related voice mails were deleted; the lawsuit claims Koenigs was “excommunicated” from the WCDA offices. The lawsuit claims retaliation from the WCDA against Koenigs and that she suffered mental and emotional pain and anguish, past and future medical expenses, and past and future mental disability.
Count 4 involves “sexual discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, unequal pay and retaliation in violation of Iowa Code 216.”
Highlights of count 4: The lawsuit claims that after defendant Reeder became president of the WCDA, he encourage other board members to participate in “his pattern and practice of sexual harassment and discrimination against plaintiff and they did, though email, phone and during board meetings.” The lawsuit says that Koenigs received “countless emails with obscene words and images” and that she had asked for them to stop. Some of the emails she received included material or pictures that showed naked people in an airport terminal and a sex-themed email with different categories of sex as the punch line to obscene jokes. The lawsuit states that sex was discussed at board meetings. It also says that when Koenigs told defendant Reeder that she met with the governor, Reeder asked her if she had “flashed him with her boobs.” The lawsuit says that the conduct was not stopped even when Koenigs complained, culminating in a suicide attempt by Koenigs on June 25th, 2012.
Count 5 involves “unfair employment practices – violation of Iowa Code 729.”
Highlights of count 5: The lawsuit claims that Koenigs was a victim of unfair employment practices and that the defendants violated Koenigs rights by “treating her differently, paying her less, and retaliating against her.”
Kimberly Koenigs has demanded a trial by jury.
More on this developing story this afternoon.
I have recently read other articles involving this woman…This seems to be a theme in her life…I would like to hear the other side of the story.
She spent 9 years at this job and all of a sudden all hell breaks loose? Did she put up with sexual harassment and substandard pay for 9 years before she reported it, and if so, why? I have lots of questions about this case and hope it doesn’t get settled out of court.
Somebody sure likes to see their name in print.
With a comment like that, sounds like you either condone harassment and abuse or you were a participant dishing it out to her. No one wants to go through that and no one wants their name in the paper for that!
@DLW -It appears that you have already found the WCDA guilty of the charges. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to hear both sides before you make a judgment?
I think its those Board Members that like the names in print.