Citing omission, judge dismisses ex-Iowa Senate aide's suit

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An attorney for a former Iowa Senate Republican Caucus aide says he plans to refile her sexual harassment lawsuit after a judge dismissed the case over a minor filing dispute.

Judge Dennis Stovall ruled that Kirsten Anderson's petition failed to mention that she's exhausted her administrative remedies as required by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Attorneys on both sides agree Anderson exhausted those remedies, but the petition simply didn't mention it. Granting the state's motion to dismiss, Stovall called the omission "fatally defective" but said the case could be refiled.

Anderson's attorney, Michael Carroll, said he disagrees with the ruling and wants Stovall to reconsider. He plans to refile the lawsuit otherwise.

Anderson contends that she was fired in 2013 after complaining about sexual harassment by male aides and lawmakers.