A Scott County judge has sided with the city of Davenport in a lawsuit challenging the reinstatement of a former fire chief who has accused the city of firing her over a workplace harassment complaint.
Former Fire Chief Lynn Washburn spent nearly six years at the helm of the department until she was abruptly fired last year by City Administrator Corri Spiegel. As she contested the firing, Washburn brought her case to Davenport’s civil service commission, a panel that reviews public employee complaints.
The commission ordered that Washburn be re-instated as a district chief with the department, a decision the city challenged in Scott County Court.
In his ruling, Scott County District Court Judge Stuart Werling said the commission “lacked jurisdiction to hear her appeal and was without authority” in its action.