Jury Awards Palm Beach County Fire Recruit $750k for Gender Discrimination

A former Palm Beach County firefighter recruit who was forced to resign in 2015, was awarded $750,000 by a jury who concluded she had been discriminated against on account of her gender. Sharon Wilson started the Palm Beach County fire academy in April, 2015. At the time she was 43 years old.

During the second week of the academy, Wilson fractured her wrist. Thereafter, she was written up for a series of seemly minor infractions, including:

  • “not reporting her wrist injury” despite the fact the officer who wrote her up “confirmed the injury had been reported”
  • “use of cellphone while in the academy” despite being on her lunch break that was considered to be an “authorized break”
  • “not bringing her driver’s license to work” one day despite not being told beforehand to bring the license

Thereafter Wilson was told she needed to resign immediately, and that if she did, she would have the opportunity to reapply and be rehired. She reluctantly submitted her resignation, but was not subsequently rehired.

In 2016, Wilson filed suit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court alleging discrimination and retaliation because of her disability (wrist), age, and gender. As the case made its way through the court system the disability claim was dropped, and it proceeded on the gender and age discrimination theories. On December 6, 2021 the jury found in favor of Wilson on the gender discrimination claim, awarding her $243,372 for actual damages and $500,000 for “emotional pain, mental anguish, inconvenience and loss of reputation.” The jury rejected the age discrimination claim.

Here is a copy of the jury verdict form.

Here is a copy of the original complaint:

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

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.
x

Check Also

West Virginia Court Affirms Dismissal of Suit Over Carbon Monoxide Exposure

The Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a family who claimed that 911 operators mishandled carbon monoxide incident resulting in serious injuries. The suit was brought by three members of the Marchant family over an incident that occurred in February 2018.

Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Free Speech Lawsuit by Terminated Lynchburg Fire Captain

The U.S. Fourth Circuit has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a former Lynchburg, VA fire captain who claimed he was wrongfully terminated for posting anti-transgender content on social media. The high-profile case involved allegations of 1st Amendment violations, religious discrimination, and political retaliation.