DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An administrative law judge has sided with a man who was fired from the Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington after posting a "Dilbert" comic strip on an office bulletin board.

During a recent hearing for unemployment benefits, David Steward's bosses said he implied they were a bunch of "drunken lemurs."

According to state records, Steward posted the "Dilbert" comic in late October. It was shortly after officials announced the casino would close.

In the strip, Dilbert and another character are shown having the following exchange:

"Why does it seem as if most of the decisions in my workplace are made by drunken lemurs?"

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"Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent."

"Why are talented people so busy?"

"They're fixing the problems made by people who have time."

After the comic was posted, casino managers reviewed surveillance tapes and determined Steward was responsible. He was fired, and the casino subsequently challenged his claim for unemployment benefits.

At the hearing, Steve Morley, the casino's human resources director, testified that management found the cartoon to be "very offensive" and fired Steward as a result.

"Basically, he was accusing the decision-makers of being drunken lemurs," Morley testified. "We consider that misconduct when you insult your employer."

Steward testified that he posted the comic partly because of the impending layoffs.

"I thought maybe it would cheer some people up," he said. "I found it humorous."

Administrative Law Judge Lynette Donner sided with Steward, ruling the posting of the comic strip represented "a good-faith error in judgment," not intentional misbehavior.

"Dilbert" is famous for satirizing managerial incompetence.

Its creator, Scott Adams, said Steward's dismissal might be the first confirmed instance of a worker being fired for posting a "Dilbert" strip in the workplace.