Oregon Firefighter With Pacemaker Settles Discrimination Suit
A female firefighter from Eugene, Oregon who was prohibited from returning to duty with a pacemaker, has settled a disability and gender discrimination suit against the fire department for $285,000.
Carolyn McCann suffered a cardiac event on December 6, 2006 while participating in training for the Seattle Firefighters stair climb. She subsequently required a pacemaker to be implanted, and was prohibited by the department from returning to full duty.
McCann claimed the Eugene Fire & EMS Department refused to allow her to return despite the fact that her doctor and the department physician concluded that she was capable of safely performing her duties. She filed suit in Federal Court under the Americans with Disabilities Act claiming she was discriminated against on the basis of having a perceived disability. She also alleged disability discrimination under state law, a violation of her equal protection rights, sex discrimination, and retaliation for having filed a workers comp claim for her heart condition.
Besides the fire department, also named in the suit were Fire Chief Randall Groves and Ops Chief Karen Brack. Both were sued in their capacity as officials of the department and personally.
McCann had previously filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries over the matter. The bureau concluded in January 2010 that there was substantial evidence to believe McCann has been unlawfully discriminated against.
According to news reports, it was the city’s insurer, not the Eugene Fire Department, that agreed to the settlement. Claims manager Cathy Joseph said the company made its decision on a number of factors, including the costs of litigation.
Here is a copy of the original complaint that sets forth McCann’s version of the events leading up to the suit. McCann v Eugene
I wonder,.. if she was on full duty and had another cardiac episode after having the pacemaker implanted, woud she then sue the Eugene FD for allowing her back?
Anytime you disagree with your own physician there is going to be a problem.
Interesting point Ron!
Chip
You would think if the city’s doctor agreed with McCann’s doctor that she could safely return – that should have ended the matter.
It is unclear why that didn’t resolve it.
Curt, something I have always wondered about, what’s the retention rate of firefighters who win their jobs back in such circumstances? Given the tight nature of FF relationships, it seems like strong feeling after the fact would be present. And maybe have a subtle (or even overt) effect on the person’s job satisfaction. After all, at the end of the day, all the people attached to judgements and rulings are… people.
Legeros
Good question… And I do not have the answer. I wonder if anyone tracks that kind of information? And I wonder if the stats for all workers would be the same as for firefighters?
In the cases I have personally been involved with, the successful firefighter has put in a full career and from all appearances remained the same kind of employee they had been prior to the suit (if they were dedicated before the termination they remained so after reinstatement, and if they were blows… they stayed blows).