Former interim ambulance director sues Jefferson County officials, contractor

FAIRFIELD – A former interim director of Jefferson County Ambulance is suing five people, including two current supervisors and the county attorney, for actions they allegedly took during her application to become the fulltime director in the summer of 2024.

Judy Heisel was the base manager of Jefferson County Ambulance from the time it was formed in 2023 until April 2024, when then director Brian Thomas resigned and Heisel was appointed interim director to take his place. Heisel applied for the director’s position, but the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors voted to hire the current director, Joshua Hemminger, instead.

In her lawsuit filed on Nov. 3, 2025, Heisel alleges that her civil rights were violated, she was retaliated against for reporting misconduct, she was discriminated against because of her sex, slander was committed against her during a job interview, and the county attorney caused a malicious prosecution of her. The five defendants named in the lawsuit are Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding, current County Supervisors Lee Dimmitt and Susie Drish as well as former County Supervisor Dee Sandquist, and Dr. Amanda Moreno, contracted as the county’s medical director.

Moulding told the Union that Heisel’s lawsuit was a “meritless claim by a disgruntled former ambulance employee,” and that he expects the matter to be dismissed, just as former ambulance director Brian Thomas’ lawsuit against the county was also dismissed.

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HEISEL ALLEGES RETALIATION

Heisel states in her lawsuit that the retaliation she suffered stemmed from a couple of incidents involving emergency medical technician (EMT) Damien Wimmer, who was employed by Jefferson County Ambulance at the time these incidents allegedly occurred in the spring of 2024. Heisel wrote that, on or about April 29, 2024, she became aware that Wimmer had engaged in “conduct outside his scope of practice,” which she reported to Moreno and human resources representative Jack Reed, and for which Wimmer received a two-week suspension.

Heisel states that Moreno assured her she would report the incident to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, pursuant to state law. The lawsuit claims that Wimmer again engaged in conduct outside his scope of practice while acting as a Libertyville First Responder on May 31, 2024, which Heisel learned of and reported to Reed, Moreno, and regional EMS Coordinator Jacob Dodds.

The lawsuit states that Dodds informed Heisel that as of June 20, 2024, Moreno had not provided the completed complaint form to Iowa DHHS from Wimmer’s first reportable incident in April, and he sent Heisel complaint forms and requested she complete them for both the first and second incidents. Heisel provided the complaint forms for both incidents to Travis Clark, Iowa DHHS compliance officer, on June 21, 2024, and Wimmer was terminated that same day as an EMT with Jefferson County Ambulance.

Heisel further alleges that Wimmer and Moreno had been “close friends for several years,” and that the two were on vacation together while Moreno was participating in Heisel’s second interview via Zoom to become ambulance director.

“Dr. Moreno did not want Heisel to be hired as Ambulance Director due to Heisel reporting her long-time friend Wimmer, which eventually resulted in his termination,” Heisel writes in her lawsuit, prepared by her attorneys Michael J. Carroll and Danielle Dunne of Carney & Appleby Law Firm of Des Moines.

The Union attempted to reach both Wimmer and Moreno via Facebook, as well as calling the Jefferson County Ambulance base requesting to speak with Moreno, but had not received a response as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12.

HEISEL’S INTERVIEWS

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors posted the ambulance director job opening on May 13, 2024, and it was to stay open until June 7. According to the lawsuit, then Supervisor Sandquist unilaterally appointed Moreno and Reed to serve on the “hiring committee.”

“Supervisor Sandquist made it well known that she would heavily rely on the opinion of Dr. Moreno,” reads the lawsuit.

Heisel’s second interview for the ambulance director position with the board of supervisors occurred in closed session on June 26, 2024. Moreno and Reed participated in this interview via Zoom. Heisel alleges that Moreno was at Lake of the Ozarks at the time of the interview, and that Wimmer was with her.

The Union emailed Heisel to ask how she knew Moreno was with Wimmer at the time, as well as other questions about the lawsuit. Heisel responded that, on the advice of her attorneys, she would not make any further comments on the litigation.

“Approximately 30 minutes into the interview, Dr. Moreno stated that nobody was addressing the ‘elephant in the room,’” reads the lawsuit. “Dr. Moreno stated that what was going on at the ambulance base currently was an ‘internal dumpster fire’ that needed to be addressed. Dr. Moreno asked Heisel what had happened, specifically what had happened with Brian Thomas, the former Ambulance Director. Dr. Moreno clarified she was referring to Heisel having sexual relations with Thomas. Heisel explicitly stated she was not going to discuss her personal life in the interview. Dr. Moreno said it wasn’t her personal life, that Thomas was her boss which was the problem.”

The lawsuit states that, at this point in the interview, Dimmitt objected, asking Moulding, who was present, if all applicants were going to be asked about their personal lives.

“Attorney Moulding advised the Board it was their interview and they could ask whatever them deemed appropriate,” reads the lawsuit. “Supervisor Dimmitt and Dr. Moreno began engaging in heated discussions. Dr. Moreno stated the County is being put at risk. Dr. Moreno claimed she heard that Heisel and Thomas were having sex in the ambulance building. Dr. Moreno claimed people were telling her that Heisel had to be on monitors and have IVs because she was abusing prescription drugs. Supervisor Dimmitt, Dr. Moreno, and Supervisor Drish continued to engage in heated exchanges and were speaking over one another.”

Drish warned Moreno about making accusations in the interview, according to the lawsuit, whereupon Moreno responded that she was just reporting what she was hearing. Moreno claimed that people had brought these concerns to her.

“Dr. Moreno said something like we can’t have people abusing prescription substances or being put on EKG’s and getting IV’s at work — all in reference to Heisel,” states the lawsuit. “After the interview concluded, Supervisor Dimmitt requested to make a comment. He stated the interview that was just conducted of Heisel was unprofessional specifically referencing the accusations against Heisel.”

On July 11, 2024, the supervisors voted 2-1 to reopen the application period for ambulance director until July 31, with Drish and Sandquist voting in favor and Dimmitt voting against.

Heisel’s lawsuit states that she had a phone conversation with Reed after this July 11 supervisor meeting, where Reed stated that Moreno had opened up a floodgate of potential liability onto Jefferson County based on her statements in Heisel’s second interview.

Another point that Heisel raises in her lawsuit is that Thomas was making a salary of $85,000 at the time of his resignation, and the county later hired Joshua Hemminger on a salary of $85,000.

After Thomas resigned, the board appointed Heisel interim ambulance director "with the salary Brian Thomas was making effective now," referring to April 24, 2024. However, Heisel argues that by July 1, 2024, her salary was still $65,000, the same as when she was hired as base manager.

HEISEL’S LAST DAY OF WORK

Heisel claims in her lawsuit that she discovered the supervisors hired Joshua Hemminger as ambulance director during the board meeting on Aug. 5, 2024, which would prove to be her final day as an employee of the ambulance.

“After the Board meeting, Hemminger, Moulding, Drish, and Assistant Jefferson County Attorney Elizabeth Estey went to the Ambulance building to begin the Director transition from Heisel to Hemminger,” the lawsuit reads. “In lieu of the job for which she applied, the County made a theoretical job offer for Heisel to continue being employed by the County. The County stated to Heisel that it might have a position for her, but did not reveal the job position or title, duties and responsibilities, wages, or any other information related to the theoretical position. Heisel requested more information in order to make an informed decision. In response, the County told her she had to formally accept the offer before those details and information would be given to her. Heisel said she could not accept an offer so ambiguous as to not be an offer at all. The County then presented her with severance paperwork suggesting that the offer of employment was not bona fide. Heisel rejected the severance package.”

The lawsuit also references an Iowa Public Information Board complaint filed against the supervisors, claiming the board violated Iowa Code when Dimmitt and Drish discussed the ambulance director hiring process in June of 2024.

Furthermore, Heisel alleges that Moulding caused a “malicious prosecution” of her when he gave an affidavit to Fairfield Police alleging that Heisel had secretly recorded a conversation at the ambulance base on Aug. 5, 2024 between Moulding, Estey and Drish. Moulding’s testimony formed the basis of a criminal case against Heisel that was prosecuted by the Washington County Attorney’s Office, which went before a jury in June 2025 and where Heisel was found not guilty.

COUNTY ATTORNEY RESPONDS

The Union attempted to obtain comments from all five defendants in the case, as well as Damien Wimmer, to respond to Heisel’s lawsuit. Dimmitt said he would defer to the county attorney. Drish and Sandquist responded but did not offer comments. Moreno and Wimmer could not be reached.

Moulding offered a written response to the lawsuit.

“This matter represents another baseless attempt by a small group of former Jefferson County Ambulance Service personnel to challenge the integrity of Jefferson County and its officials,” Moulding said. “The County is confident that the Courts will evaluate these allegations as they have past claims without merit and will dismiss them at the appropriate stage.”

Moulding noted that Heisel is represented by the “same attorney who previously filed a frivolous lawsuit against the County on behalf of her former supervisor, Brian Thomas. That case was dismissed by the Court, and the dismissal was recently upheld on appeal.”

“This is not the first instance in which Ms. Heisel has attempted to bring claims against Jefferson County,” Moulding stated. “In one of multiple prior complaints to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, she alleged discrimination based on her sexual orientation as a heterosexual, apparently in response to the County’s concerns about an inappropriate relationship between Ms. Heisel and her supervisor. While characterizing such concerns as ‘heterosexual discrimination’ is novel, it lacks any basis in law. In her current filing, Ms. Heisel abandons that argument and now asserts that she was discriminated against on the basis of sex or gender when not selected as Ambulance Director. The County emphasizes that Ms. Heisel was not chosen for the position because another candidate possessed demonstrably superior qualifications, experience, and leadership capabilities.”

Moulding states that Heisel referenced statements made during her job interview, which was conducted in closed session at her request.

“The County finds it ironic that she now alleges slander based on private discussions she herself has chosen to publicize,” he wrote. “While questions were raised during her interview concerning a possible inappropriate relationship with her supervisor and potential misuse of prescription-controlled substances while on duty, those were not the determining factors in the County’s decision. More significant concerns arose from Ms. Heisel’s own conduct during the hiring process, including her use of the County’s official ambulance Facebook page to promote her candidacy, contrary to County policy, and her suggestion of a possible strike or walkout by ambulance personnel if she were not hired (Public reports from 2023 indicate Ms. Heisel previously led a walkout following her termination from a prior employer, CARE Ambulance.). Additional issues were also identified regarding the workplace culture that developed under her leadership.”

Moulding also reiterated his claim that Heisel secretly recorded a private conversation between county personnel on her final day of employment, though a jury found Heisel not guilty of this claim.

“Her lawsuit’s claim of ‘unreasonable search’ arising from that incident is baseless and comparable to an individual unlawfully placing hidden cameras in a private setting and then alleging wrongdoing when the cameras are discovered,” Moulding wrote. “Such an argument is inherently absurd. Furthermore, her claim that Jefferson County is responsible for prosecuting her for this conduct is entirely misplaced, as the prosecution was independently conducted by a special prosecutor and not by Jefferson County or any of its officials.”

Moulding concluded by saying that the county will continue to defend itself “vigorously against false claims,” and that it “remains committed to upholding the integrity of our institutions, our employees, and the taxpayers we serve.”

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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