Sexual Harassment

Illinois Harassment-Suicide Suit to Proceed

A lawsuit filed by the husband of a firefighter who committed suicide allegedly due to work-related gender-based discrimination, has survive a motion to dismiss. Daniel Zaboroski filed suit last year as the executor for the estate of his wife, Nicole Hladik.

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Progress Reported by Chicago Fire on Addressing EEO Concerns

The City of Chicago’s OIG has completed a follow-up report on its 2021 audit of the Chicago Fire Department’s discrimination and sexual harassment policies. The OIG concluded that while the policies themselves met the requirements of the law, they were insufficient to fully protect members who are vulnerable to discrimination and/or sexual harassment.

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Sexual Harassment Allegations Claim Two More Leduc Firefighters

Two members of an Ontario fire department are no longer with the department following allegations of sexual harassment that led to a civil lawsuit, and the resignation of the fire chief. Their departure appears to be associated with a civil suit filed earlier this year by two female firefighters from the Leduc Fire Department alleging they were exposed to systemic harassment, bullying and discrimination.

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Firefighter Victim of Voyeuristic Colleague Files Suit in Washington State

A female firefighter who was secretly recorded by a voyeuristic colleague has filed suit against the fire department and the member. The lawsuit accuses former firefighter Patrick Nicholson, East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Jefferson County with violating the victim’s civil rights, wiretap violations, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and trespass.

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Fire Law Roundup – March 21, 2022

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, Brad and Curt discuss a LODD apparatus accident case out of Texas, a reckless driving with an engine case from Virginia, a fire chief theft case out of Louisiana, sexual harassment cases from Texas and Virginia, and several more from beyond the blog.

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Houston Sexual Harassment Suit Reinstated by Fifth Circuit

The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a sexual harassment suit brought against the Houston Fire Department by a female firefighter. Melinda Abbt brought the action in 2019 after discovering that male firefighters obtained a nude video of her, and watched it multiple times over a period of years.

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Fire Law Roundup – March 7, 2022

In this episode, Brad and Curt discuss the dismissal of a lawsuit against the Dallas Fire Department over an alleged assault of a homeless, mentally disable man; the settlement of a discrimination lawsuit resulting in a former fire chief receiving $400k... and more

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New Mexico Firefighter Files Sexual Harassment Suit

A New Mexico firefighter who claims she was forced to resign due to a sexually hostile work environment has filed suit against the city, the mayor, the city manager, the fire chief, a battalion chief and a captain. Former Hobbs firefighter Caitlin Schultze filed suit in US District Court for the District of New Mexico.

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Fire Law Roundup – February 28, 2022

In this episode, Brad and Curt discuss a sexual harassment lawsuit out of Hartford, Connecticut; a $100 million lawsuit filed by three Dallas firefighters injured in an explosion; a lawsuit against Sacramento Metro fire over a boating accident; a lawsuit against Honolulu fire over a dropped patient; and a wrongful death lawsuit against an SCBA manufacturer and those who maintained them.

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Two Fire Officers Sue Hartford Alleging Sexual Harassment

Two fire officers with the Hartford Fire Department have filed suit claiming they were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment and retaliation. Captain Shelly Carter and Lieutenant Rosemarie Cataldo filed suit in US District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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