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

Tag Archives: Zubulake

Illinois Judge Orders Sanctions Against Fire Department in Sexual Harassment Case

An Illinois judge has agreed to issue sanctions against a fire department for failing to preserve digital evidence in a sexual harassment case. The case dates back to 2012 when Country Club Hills firefighter Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki filed suit against the department, fire chief Joseph Ellington and firefighter Carl Pycz.

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.

Name
First Last
Email*
Address*
State
Job Title
Company
CAPTCHA