Tag Archives: sexual harassment

FDNY Prevails in Second Discrimination Suit by Gordon Springs

An FDNY firefighter who filed suit in 2017 alleging he was sexually harassed and discriminated against on account of his race, has had a second lawsuit against the department and several of his colleagues dismissed. Gordon Springs claims he was sexual assaulted in 2015 at the Midtown Manhattan station nicknamed The Cavemen.

Louisiana Fire Dispatchers Claim Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

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.

Burning Question on What To Do If A Subordinate or Coworker Sues

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?

FDNY Reverse Discrimination and Retaliation Suit Will Continue

An FDNY battalion chief who claims he was subjected to reverse discrimination and retaliation after reporting rumors about paramedic having sex with a firefighter in his fire station, has lost 13 of the 20 counts in his lawsuit, but he will be allowed to proceed on the remaining seven against the city and FDNY.

Arizona Fire District Sued Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Allegations of sexual assault and a hostile work environment have been swirling for over a year in the Rio Rico Medical & Fire District, but this week two former firefighters filed suit against the district, a former fire chief and his wife, and a current captain and his wife.

Five Chicago Fire Medics Sue For Sexual Harassment

Five female paramedics with the Chicago Fire Department filed suit today alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation. The five unnamed women were identified in the complaint as Jane Doe 1 through 5.

Illinois Fire Department Facing Sanctions For Destroying Evidence in Sexual Harassment Case

An Illinois fire department is facing court-ordered sanctions after having been caught deleting evidence from its computer system that was relevant to a sexual harassment case. The Country Club Hills Fire Department has been embroiled in a sexual harassment suit brought by firefighter Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki dating back to 2012.

Denial of Disability Pension Reversed Due to Bias By Pension Board Members

An Illinois firefighter who claims she was sexually harassed to the point she became disabled, has prevailed in the appeal of the denial of her disability pension because three of the five pension board members participated in the harassment. Sugar Grove Fire Protection District lieutenant Sara Naden claims she was forced off the job in March, 2014

RI Firefighter Sues Council President and Town Over Outrageous Remarks

A firefighter who the town council president called a “sociopath” and threatened to “cut off his balls and feed them to his god-damn dog” is now suiting the town and the council president. David Gorman filed suit against East Greenwich and Council President Sue Cienki for defamation, invasion of privacy/false light, and sexual harassment.

Drinking, Sex, Sexual Orientation and Race Discrimination Top Fire Law Headlines

Last week was a very busy week Fire Law-wise. Besides the five headline stories I covered, there were a seemingly endless stream of additional cases that broke. Let’s take a quick look at several of the more important cases that otherwise would have slipped through the cracks.

Demotion of Salt Lake Fire Marshal Overturned

The Salt Lake City Civil Service Commission has overturned the demotion of Fire Marshal Martha Ellis, finding that the city wrongly demoted her in last year. Chief Ellis was demoted from battalion chief to captain for an "apparent lack of engagement with [her] current assignment, a lack of ownership of [her] job responsibilities, an inability or unwillingness to follow instructions ..."

California FD Settles Sexual Harassment Suit for $1.25 Million

The City of Petaluma has agreed to settle a sexual harassment suit brought by a female firefighter for $1.25 million. Andrea Waters filed suit in 2014 accusing colleagues and superiors of creating a sexually hostile work environment and retaliating against her when she complained.

Fairfax County Chief Interviewed on Sexual Harassment

Fairfax County Fire Chief Rich Bowers agreed to an interview today with WUSA9 reporter Peggy Fox to discuss the recent sexual harassment cases that the department is facing.

Followup Investigation on Providence Fire Sexual Harassment Case

In the aftermath of an $800,000 jury verdict against the city of Providence for sexual harassment, WJAR TV10 reporter Katie Davis did an in depth investigative piece on the recent case, comparing it to an earlier case of sexual harassment that occurred 17 years earlier.

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