Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: Jennifer Costa

Schenectady Settles FD Sexual Harassment Suit for $500K

The City of Schenectady, New York has agreed to settle a federal court sexual harassment lawsuit filed last year by a female firefighter for $500,000. Jennifer Costa sued the city claiming she had been repeatedly subjected to lewd behavior; passed over for promotion; and retaliated against following complaints she made about harassing behavior.

Suit Accuses NY Fire Department of Sexual Harassment

A veteran Schenectady firefighter has filed suit against the city claiming she has been subjected to a variety of outrageous comments and conduct creating a sexually hostile workplace. Jennifer Costa, a firefighter and paramedic in the Schenectady Fire Department since 2001, claims she was repeatedly subjected to lewd behavior; passed over for promotion in favor of less senior, less qualified and less well-trained males; and retaliated against following complaints she made about harassing behavior.

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.

Name
First Last
Email*
Address*
State
Job Title
Company
CAPTCHA