The Iowa Supreme Court ordered Iowa State University to pay $650,000 to former employee Dennis Smith for emotional distress and harm of his reputation.

Smith was a writer for the Engineering Communications and Marketing department.

The court ruled that he was mistreated by his superiors after he filed complaints of financial misconduct by his boss Pamela Reinig. The university found that Reinig had recieved “improper payments” and lied about billings to her department after investigating claims made in complaints by Smith.

Smith filed complaints after believing he was promised a promotion in 2002 that did not come until 2005. According to the ruling, after Smith’s initial complaint was filed, Reinig also made multiple claims to university officials that she was worried he was a security threat.

The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a jury award of $500,000 for “severe emotional distress.” The court also awarded $150,000 for damages to his reputation.

The court rejected a $634,000 jury award for lost pay, finding that Smith did not lose his job during 2010 department reorganization as a means of retaliation.