Sexual Harassment

A New Hampshire firefighter who resigned last December after enduring what he claims was years of sexually harassing comments and retaliation is now suing his former employer. Christopher R. Golomb filed suit against the City of Concord last month in Merrimack County Superior Court.

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A Rochester firefighter who claims to have been the victim of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work, has filed suit against the City of Rochester. The firefighter, identified as Jane Doe, claims that the city failed to protect her from domestic violence as required by state law and city policy, and that she was sexually harassed by coworkers at work.

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As have many fire departments in the UK and Canada recently, the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has been in the news relative to allegations of institutional racism and sexism. However, when questioned by Lee Anderson, a member of parliament, the chair of the Authority, Rebecca Knox, was unable to answer some relatively simple questions about the decision to label her organization “institutionally racist.”

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A Cincinnati firefighter has filed suit alleging she was sexually harassed, assaulted by a lieutenant and a firefighter, and retaliated against when she reported the misconduct. Rebecca Bryant filed suit today against the city, former Lieutenant Harold Wright, and firefighter Damonte Brown as defendants.

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The former fire chief in Evansville, Indiana is facing allegations that he sexually harassed a female employee, which in turn prompted his resignation last fall. The unidentified victim reported that the chief filmed her without her permission, and complimented her on her appearance and the way she dressed.

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The former fire marshal for the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District has filed a gender discrimination and retaliation suit. Janet Washburn filed suit in US District Court for the Middle District of Florida alleging violations of Title VII and the Florida Civil Rights Act.

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The city of Lincoln has settled two gender discrimination suits brought by female firefighters totaling $900,000. The suits were brought by firefighter Amanda Benson in 2018 and Jessie Lundvall in 2022.

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The former fire chief of the Hagerman Fire District has filed suit against the district and its board of directors alleging gender discrimination, hostile workplace, and retaliation under state and federal law. Nicole Pannhurst filed suit in US District Court alleging violations of Title VII, New York’s Human Rights Law, and civil rights violations under 42 USC § 1983.

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A Florida district chief who was terminated in 2022, has been given one final opportunity to refile an amended complaint before his wrongful termination suit is dismissed. Palm Beach County District Chief Christopher DeVito claims he was wrongfully terminated ostensibly over a risqué texting relationship he had with a subordinate.

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A former Oregon volunteer firefighter who filed and later dismissed a sexual harassment, whistleblower, and wrongful termination suit in 2021, has filed a virtually identical suit against the same parties. Amy Lenz filed suit against the Knappa Fire District and three district officials.

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A Harris County jury has awarded a former Houston firefighter $250,000 in damages against her former captain for unlawfully sharing a nude video of her. Melinda Abbt filed suit against Captain John Chris Barrientes and the city, alleging sexual harassment and violation of a Texas law titled “Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material.”

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A nurse who was hired by a Missouri fire department in April, 2022 has filed suit claiming that sexual harassment forced her to request a reduction to part-time status in September, 2022 and resign in December, 2022. Christeena Ferguson filed suit alleging 3 counts of sexual harassment and discrimination against the Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District.

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A lawsuit filed by the husband of an Illinois firefighter who committed suicide has been dismissed by agreement of all parties. Daniel Zaboroski had filed the suit as the executor for the estate of his wife, Nicole Hladik, and on his own behalf, against the Village of Hinsdale and a lieutenant.

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A sexual harassment allegation against a Casper Fire-EMS Department captain, coupled with the mishandling of the investigation by a battalion chief, would ordinarily result in a headline announcing the filing of a lawsuit. The Casper Star Tribune, and more precisely reporters Sofia Saric and Mary Steurer, instead embarked on real journalism.

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