Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
The sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a female firefighter who was the target of an infamous bathroom cam stunt back in 2010 has been settled for $850,000.
Jessie Noah was the target of a video camera hidden in the towel dispenser in the women’s bathroom in a Los Alamos County fire station in October, 2010. It was reportedly placed there by Fire Captain Aaron Adair. Adair was charged criminally with voyeurism and tampering with evidence for destroying the camera’s memory card. He resigned from the department and received probation on a plea bargain.
Noah’s lawsuit alleged that once the matter was reported, she was severely retaliated against by other firefighters. She claims the already sexually hostile work environment became unbearable forcing he to resigned in 2011. Noah’s suit alleged that ongoing harassment and retaliation left her no option but to quit under the legal theory known as “constructive termination.”
The $850,000 settlement was funded in part by the county and in part by the New Mexico Self-Insurer’s Fund. It reportedly was settled earlier in the year, but the settlement escaped media notice until today when the Los Alamos Monitor broke the news.
Earlier coverage of the bathroom cam incident. And here regarding security clearance issues.
Coverage of the filing on the lawsuit, including the complaint.
