A former Michigan fire lieutenant has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former fire department and former fire chief. Blythe Amenson filed her lawsuit earlier this year in Genesee County Circuit Court asserting sexual harassment, discriminatory and retaliatory discharge, and violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act by the Argentine Township and former fire chief William Harvey.
Amenson alleged she was sexually harassed by Fire Chief William Harvey over a period of two years, claiming he would stare at her breasts and buttocks, ask about her menstrual cycles, and humiliate her to others with explicit sexual references. Amenson was dismissed from the department on July 6, 2009.
The Township’s defense was that Amenson failed to complain to a board member. Amenson contended that she followed the rules, complained to her supervisor, and that the harassment was so open and pervasive that the Township should have been on notice. It was the Township Board that authorized her termination.
According to Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the case was settled today after mediation for $400,000.