Hearing set to dismiss lawsuit by fired UI Vice President

A hearing has been set to determine a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by fired University of Iowa Vice President Phillip Jones.

The hearing will be held on Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m., and will cover the motion filed by the state Board of Regents and a motion for leave to amend that Jones filed in Johnson County District Court.

In a motion filed by the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the regents claim the case should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and Jones' failure to assert a single claim in which the court could grant relief.

Jones, former dean of students and vice president for student services, charges he was wrongfully fired, the UI did not follow due process and made false and defamatory statements about him. He is suing for unspecified monetary damages.

Also named in the suit are the university and President Sally Mason.

Mason fired Jones and another UI administrator last September after a sexual assault scandal involving student athletes, citing a loss of confidence and a need to restore trust in the university.