Sexual Harassment

A Missouri firefighter has filed suit against her department, two chiefs, a captain and a firefighter-colleague alleging she has been sexual harassed and retaliated against. Dana Osborne filed suit last week in citing a litany of boorish behaviors perpetrated by her captain and others within the Nixa Fire Protection District.

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The US District Court for the District of Kansas has granted summary judgment to the City of Topeka in a suit brought by a female firefighter alleging she was subjected to a hostile work environment and retaliation. Amy Bermudez, a 25-year veteran of the department, filed suit in 2018 alleging the harassment stretched back to 2014.

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The Martha’s Vineyard Times is reporting that FBI agents have been on the island recently investigating the Oak Bluffs Fire Department. According to a source named by the Times, the investigation is looking into Medicare and Medicaid billing issues. The Times is also reporting that subpoenas have been issued to fire department employees.

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A California firefighter who claims she endured years of sexual harassment has agreed to settle her federal lawsuit for $335,000. LisaMarie Mason sued the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and former Fire Chief Dave Roberts last year.

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A female firefighter who was forced to take a medical retirement from the Fort Worth Fire Department has filed a 55-page, 330-paragraph, ten-count complaint naming the city and five officers, accusing them of sexual harassment and violating her civil rights. Identified in the complaint as Jane Doe, the firefighter claims she was sexually assaulted while on-duty by supervisors.

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A second lawsuit has been filed against a Utah fire department and a former assistant chief alleging sexual assault. Whitney Ottley filed suit last month against Assistant Fire Chief Austin James Corry and the Kanosh Volunteer Fire Department claiming she was raped in the firehouse in November 2016.

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Three dispatchers for the Jefferson Parish East Bank Consolidated Fire Protection Bureau have filed suit alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Monica Mitchell, Melissa Burkett, and Tammy Cavanaugh claim their supervisor, Robert Funk, discriminated against them and subjected them to a hostile work environment.

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An Ohio jury ruled today that one of two female Toledo firefighters involved in a lawsuit that stretches back over a decade, was discriminated against. The suit dates back to 2005, when Carla Stachura, Judi Imhoff and Geraldine McCalland, filed suit claiming they were subjected to gender discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation.

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Today’s burning question: One of my subordinates filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the fire department, the fire chief, the deputy chief and 75 John Does. Many members don’t want to work with her and are concerned about being formally named in the lawsuit. Can the city put her on paid leave pending the results of an investigation? Is there any case law that you can think of off the top of your head?

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A US District Court has granted the City of Cincinnati’s motion for judgment on the pleadings in a case brought by a fire captain who claimed he was the victim of sexual harassment and retaliation after he complained to a district chief about a “film” firefighters were watching on the station television.

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A reality TV star who was hired as an EMT for FDNY has filed a sexual harassment suit against the city and an EMS Lieutenant who reportedly groped her. Angelia Pivarnick filed suit this week claiming two male lieutenants subjected her to a sexually hostile work environment.

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A firefighter in Saginaw, Michigan has filed suit alleging sexual harassment. Chelsea Powers filed suit last week in US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan accusing the Saginaw Charter Township Fire Department, Fire Chief Jim Peterson, and Assistant Chief Jim Berent of allowing her to be harassed by her colleagues.

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An Illinois firefighter who claims his colleagues made remarks about his sexual orientation has filed suit against the fire department for sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Justin R. Bakker filed suit against the Mokena Fire Protection District last month.

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An Oregon fire department has answered a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed in July by a male firefighter by asserting that the firefighter was not the target of an inappropriate prank, and that he voluntarily quit his job following an off-the-job injury.

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