Judge: U. Of Iowa Must Keep Paying Suspended Whistleblower Doc

A judge has ordered the University of Iowa to pay a suspended radiology professor who hasn’t worked for 14 months while he continues his whistleblower lawsuit.

District Judge Patrick Grady on Tuesday restored Malik Juweid to paid status in his $241,000-per-year job retroactive to Jan. 2. That means Juweid could be in line for back pay of nearly $60,000.

Grady said the university may have improperly removed Juweid from the payroll after his sick leave expired. Juweid’s doctors have said he was able to work after his mental health improved.

Grady said an outside expert should determine whether Juweid is well enough to perform his routine job functions.

Juweid was suspended for what the university has called disruptive behavior. He claims he’s being retaliated against for accusing colleagues of misconduct.