Court dismisses appeal of one claim in fired DCI agent's lawsuit   

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday ruled a former Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent, fired after he reported an SUV carrying Gov. Terry Branstad was speeding, doing a 'hard 90,” missed the deadline to appeal a ruling that dismissed one claim in his ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit.

According to the ruling, Larry Hedlund, 58, former DCI special agent, won't be able to pursue his claim of being fired in violation of state's public policy that protects law enforcement officers from being fired for enforcing state laws.

A district judge dismissed this claim from Hedlund's lawsuit on Sept. 15, 2014, finding that since Iowa had no "clearly-defined and well-recognized (public policy) exception” this protected Hedlund's actions.

The court ruled Hedlund's appeal wasn't filed within the 30-day deadline. He filed his request for the court to review the dismissal of his public policy claim 71 days after the district court's ruling.   

Hedlund, a former DCI special agent was fired in 2013 two days after he complained about a trooper driving an SUV with Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds was clocked at 84 mph in a 65-mph zone on state Highway 20. Hedlund filed his lawsuit in 2013 against the state, Gov. Branstad, former Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Brian London and DCI officials.

The incident became public after Hedlund, who initially spotted the speeding vehicle, complained it wasn't ticketed. Hedlund was put on paid leave May 1, two days after the complaint, and fired July 17, 2013 for insubordination, using a disrespectful tone and driving a state car on a day off, according to a termination letter released by the department.

The court stated that this ruling doesn't prevent Hedlund from challenging his dismissal after the case goes to trial, and his other claims in the lawsuit are ongoing, including that his firing violated a state law that prevents officers from being fired as penalty for reporting illegal activity.