something causing a server error (500)

If I'm not mistaken, you can't call num_rows after you have returned a result.

PHP Code:

$query = $this->db->get_where('employees', array('employee_email'=>$email_key));
if ($query->num_rows() > 0)
{
    $campaign = $query->result();
} 


That was it. thx

proof that an old dog can learn new tricks