Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: evidence preservation request

Illinois City Ordered to Pay $11 Million For Sexual Harassment of Female Firefighter

An Illinois firefighter who claims she suffered years of sexual harassment has been awarded $11 million in damages by a Cook County jury. Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki sued the City of Country Club Hills in 2012, alleging a hostile work environment that became worse after she first complained.

Illinois Fire Department Facing Sanctions For Destroying Evidence in Sexual Harassment Case

An Illinois fire department is facing court-ordered sanctions after having been caught deleting evidence from its computer system that was relevant to a sexual harassment case. The Country Club Hills Fire Department has been embroiled in a sexual harassment suit brought by firefighter Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki dating back to 2012.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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