Sexual Harassment

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 22, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a New York volunteer fire company against contractors over toxic fill used in the construction of a new firehouse; the filing ...

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“Throughout your life you hear about weird stuff that goes on in small communities and politics and stuff and here we are.” After reading what has been going on in the Tillamook Fire District, I think his quote can only be characterized as a severe understatement.

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A California firefighter who was dismissed from two different fire departments, has filed suit against one of the departments and three of its officers. Shelly White filed suit against the Rough & Ready Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Robert Vaughn, Captain Matt Wright, and Lieutenant David Hicks alleging sexual harassment and discrimination.

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Two cases we have been following have seemingly come to a conclusion this past week. The first case out of San Jose caught quite a bit of media attention due to the titillating nature of the allegations: a video surfaced last fall showing a scantily clad woman exiting a San Jose engine and entering a local strip club.

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Four lawsuits have been filed against the City of Everett by firefighters who claim they were sexually harassed by a fire academy instructor who is already being sued for sexual harassment. The four male firefighters filed separate suits in Snohomish County Superior Court claiming the city of failing to address harassment perpetrated by Chau Nguyen.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 10, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit out of Oregon; an investigation by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue into a hidden bathroom cam; the granting of summary judgment ...

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Two female staff members of an Oregon fire district who were laid-off in February, 2023, have filed suit claiming the layoff was thinly-disguised retaliation for complaints they had made about sexual harassment and financial mismanagement. Jennifer Motherway and Anika Todd filed suit last week naming Columbia River Fire & Rescue.

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The City of Columbus has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by city firefighter over her treatment while in the fire academy in 2019. The suit was originally filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, and later removed to US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

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A report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services has concluded that bullying, harassment, and discrimination are widespread in the 44 fire service organizations in England. Titled Values and Culture in Fire and Rescue Services, the 59 page report reaches a blunt conclusion: “It is time for this behaviour to stop.”

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 30, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a race discrimination lawsuit filed by a paid-on-call lieutenant in Michigan; a ruling by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division that four fire departments ...

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An EMT with FDNY has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit claiming a high-ranking chief pursued her, and then retaliated against her when she reported his harassment. Gina Bellido filed suit against FDNY and EMS Deputy Assistant Chief Roberto Colon in US District Court.

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A volunteer firefighter in New York is claiming that she was raped in the firehouse by two ranking officers. The plaintiff claims the officers, who are with the Wantagh Fire Department, first "plied" her with alcohol and then forced themselves on her.

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A Colorado firefighter has filed suit alleging she was sexually harassed throughout much of her 10-year membership in the East Grand Fire Protection District #4, and sexually assaulted leading to her constructive termination. Lisa MacKendrick filed suit in US District Court for the District of Colorado against the district and its fire chief.

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A firefighter with the District of Columbia has filed suit claiming that a supervisor physically assaulted her in the firehouse, and that she was retaliated against once she reported it. Anaje Boyd filed suit alleging violations of Title VII and the DC Human Rights Act, as well as retaliation.

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