Judge dismisses Phil Jones lawsuit against University of Iowa

A civil lawsuit against the University of Iowa by a fired former vice president has been dismissed.

District Court Judge Fae Hoover-Grinde on Tuesday dismissed the suit filed in Johnson County by Phillip Jones and ordered that all the defendants' motions for summary judgment are granted. Costs associated with the dismissal are assessed to the plaintiff.

Jones, the former vice president for student services, filed the suit in June 2009, arguing he was wrongfully terminated and that his due process rights were violated by the university.

UI President Sally Mason in 2008 fired Jones and another UI administrator, Marc Mills, in the wake of an investigation into the university's handling of an alleged 2007 sexual assault involving student athletes. The parents of the female student were critical of the university's handling of the investigation.

Mason at the time of the firings placed much of the blame on Mills and Jones. An investigation of the UI's response conducted by the Stolar Partnership, a St. Louis law firm hired by the UI, also placed much of the blame on Mills and Jones.

Jones and Mills say the Stolar report contained false statements about their involvement in the incident. Jones also alleged that Mason made false and defamatory statements about him.