Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
An Ohio jury ruled today that one of two female Toledo firefighters involved in a lawsuit that stretches back over a decade, was discriminated against. The suit dates back to 2005, when Captain Carla Stachura, FF Judi Imhoff and FF Geraldine McCalland, filed suit claiming they were subjected to gender discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation.
After the case was filed, the three were terminated for tape recording workplace conversations. Each was later ordered reinstated by arbitrators. The lawsuit kicked around the Ohio court system for nine years, with at least two trips up to the court of appeals.
The trial was originally scheduled for September, 2014 but neither side was prepared. Lucas County Court of Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings denied a joint request for a continuance, forcing the case to be dismissed. By agreement of the parties, the case was then refiled in 2015. McCalland withdrew from the case leaving Captain Stachura and Imhoff to proceed.
The trial began earlier this month in Lucas County Court of Common Pleas with Captain Stachura and Imhoff seeking $1.35 million in damages. Judge Jennings gave the case to the jury yesterday. The five-women and three-men deliberated for nearly seven hours before concluding 6 to 2 that Imhoff had been discriminated against, but denying Captain Stachura’s claims. The jury found that neither Captain Stachura nor Imhoff had been retaliated against.
Imoff was awarded $150,000 in damages. She remains with the fire department. Captain Stachura retired in 2008.
