Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Washington state firefighter who was terminated in August 2023, after filing a gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, has settled her claims after the fire district agreed to her retroactive reinstatement, and the payment of $540,000. Samantha Ward was terminated by the Benton County Fire District #1.
Ward filed suit back in March of 2023 alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Here is our earlier coverage. In August 2023, while that suit was pending, she was fired. After two years of legal wrangling, the fire district agreed to reinstate her retroactively to August 29, 2023 (the date of her separation), pay her a total of $540,000 in damages, and provide her with a positive employment reference. In turn, Ward has agreed to release the district and district employees for all claims, and voluntarily resign.
The details of the settlement have not been made public. Attached is the Third Amended Complaint that provides further details about the allegations against the district, including Ward’s termination which was alleged to have been one of a number of examples of the district retaliating against her for her complaints.
