Sex Discrimination Or Legitimate Disciplinary Termination of a Probationary Employee

Posted by: Curt Varone May 24, 2011 4 Comments

Was it the lie she told that got her fired, or was the lie just a convenient excuse to get rid of a female firefighter who forced her way on the job to begin with? That is the issue at the center of a lawsuit filed last week in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Victoria Bozic was fired by the city of Washington Fire Department on March 5, 2009, shortly after she misrepresented where she lived during an alleged interrogation about her residency. Just six months earlier Bozic had been hired through a settlement of her claims that she had not been hired in 2008 because she was pregnant. The city also gave her a $20,000 settlement.

Bozic was the department’s first female firefighter, and the fact it took a complaint to the EEOC about being passed over for employment – seems to give some credibility to her allegations that she has been singled out for special scrutiny. On the other hand, should a fire department be saddled with an employee with a propensity to ignore things like residency requirements, and forced to grant her a free pass when she is caught fibbing?

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.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Jury Awards $250k to Nashville Deputy Fire Marshal

The City of Nashville has been ordered by a federal court jury to pay a deputy fire marshal $250,000 plus attorneys fees. Maggie Lawrence claimed she was the victim of gender, race and age discrimination when she was passed over for promotion to fire marshal in 2022.

Light-Duty Denial Prompts Gender, Disability and Pregnancy Discrimination Suit in Ohio

An Ohio firefighter is suing her department alleging gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination following the denial of her request for a light-duty assignment. Melissa Holland filed suit against Washington Township claiming the fire department’s decision to limit light-duty assignments to job-related injuries is unlawful.