An Iowa judge has ruled in favor of a former Dallas County Jail employee to collect unemployment benefits, while still awaiting a jury trial in a lawsuit for alleged wrongful termination. 

Sources say an Administrative Law Judge awarded the defendant Dustin Robbins to receive unemployment benefits due to being fired from his position as a jailer with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. The judge found there was a “pretext” from the sheriff’s claims that Robbins had been fired and that there was no evidence that Robbins communicated with public health officials or members of the news media about the termination.

Court documents show that Robbins is suing the County, Sheriff Chad Leonard and Jail Administrator Doug Lande for wrongful termination after he contacted the Iowa Department of Corrections hotline for prison system workers who want to report COVID-19 concerns. The lawsuit claims that a letter was sent on May 2nd about a jail employee who tested positive. The email from Leonard said the worker was symptom-free and could return to work “with precautions.” 

Court documents show Robbins felt uncomfortable about the situation because the email never mentioned when the employee tested positive or how long they had been off work. After Robbins called the hotline on May 4th, Robbins learned that the worker who tested positive wasn’t coming back to work as soon as anticipated. Later that day, a private meeting was held between Robbins, Leonard and Lande. Following that meeting, Robbins was told he wasn’t fired, but he was on leave and would be contacted later. Robbins then received a letter of termination on May 12th from the County’s Human Resources Department.

When reached for comment, Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard says that despite their attorneys instructing him not to comment on the issue, he feels it’s unfortunate that he is told not to say anything when the other side is controlling the narrative, and that in reality it’s nothing like what is being portrayed. 

A jury trial has been scheduled for March of 2022. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.