Orland Fire Lieutenant Claims Gender Discrimination in Lawsuit
An Orland Fire Protection District lieutenant claims that she was treated unfairly, with hostility and requests for intervention were ignored, though a fire district attorney said a state human rights commission previously dismissed the same claims.
A lieutenant within the Orland Fire Protection District has named three current, and one former, battalion chiefs in a six-count lawsuit, claiming she was discriminated against and subjected to a “hostile work environment,” according to the suit.
Lt. Terri Simone-Lorenz, who has served with the district since 1994, filed the lawsuit in Oct. 2012. On Tuesday, the suit was amended to include as defendants Orland Fire battalion chiefs Raymond Kay, Nick Cinquepalmi, Michael Schofield and Steve Smith, who retired from the district in 2011.
Within the lawsuit, Simone-Lorenz claims that pornographic materials were left in a district women’s bathroom, derogatory comments were made about women, she was set up to fail repeatedly in drills, was slandered and ostracized by other firefighters and was disciplined when she tried to address her concerns with human resources and supervisors.
Attorney James Roche, who represents the fire district, said Friday that claims within the lawsuit were already presented to the Illinois Department of Human Rights and were dismissed.
“We feel confident that the state court will do the same and we look forward to presenting our side in a court of law,” Roche said. “We feel as such because of the fact that this already has been adjudicated in by the Illinois Department of Human Rights, who dismissed the case for lack of evidence.”
Attorney Dana Kurtz, who is representing Simone-Lorenz, was not available for comment Friday. Kurtz was quoted in the Chicago Tribune saying her clients “numerous” complaints have not been addressed.
“The district has done nothing in response, has done no investigation into any of the conduct or taken any steps to remedy it,” Kurtz said to the Tribune.
Simone-Lorenz was disciplined for two separate occurrences in 2011, one involving use of the district’s email system and other involving an argument with another fire personnel, that resulted in a two-day suspension. The discipline was appealed, arguing that there was no just cause, and she won the appeal in arbitration.
Simone-Lorenz is requesting damages of at least $100,000 in the lawsuit, as well as lost pay, attorney fees and that policies be put in place to prevent future instances of actions described in the claims.
The case is scheduled to be back in court in March 5.
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voklst
8:42 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
what else is new??? men are insecure & selfish in the workplace....they are threatened-there might be more women coming to take their jobs....its the norm that no investigation is done...that way its your word against theirs! if she had kept the magazine from the bathroom they'd say she bought it and put it there. Men are as much lemmings as women to work with. Ive had sexual harassment in h.s., working at Sears, Being in U.S. Air Force in the band & working as a truck driver in many capacities and as a school bus driver. If you report ANYTHING they write you up for poor job performance even though you have annual reviews for the past eleven years that you were meeting or exceeding job standards. The only way around this is going into business for youself or working with gay men. Or keep your mouth shut... grin & bear it while building up your social security & 401 K's until you can retire. All the documentation, video & audio only angers them more...TPTB always have more money and can get a better lawyer than yours. Its great being a 'retired' woman. It means you've put up with alot in your lifetime...now in retirement you are in charge of your destiny.
Richard Head
9:13 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
If you knew any of the men named in this suit, you'd realize how ridiculous this is. To a man, every single one of them is gentlemen. They're great leaders , and the fathers of their own daughters who wouldn't tolerate one iota of disrespect towards them. 20 years on the dept and she's just getting harassed now? Give me a break.
frank
8:43 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
"Brotherhood" of Firefighters?
You see them shopping locally for those delicious ingredients for the award winning firehouse recipes.
Well, I'll wait to see just what went into this "STEW".
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voklst
3:25 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I wasnt bashing any firefighter, thats her lawsuit...I was commiserating my experience working at female & male gendered jobs. I've never worked with any of those gentlemen. I can tell you from all the retirements, company parties, fund raisers I've attended in MY OWN work history...All the wives thought their husbands -MY co- workers were 'salt' of the earth... but while I was working with them, they kept
telling me, 1) " What great sex we would have together.",
(and they would describe it in graphic detail...) 2) " why dont you get pregnant and quit your job so I can have it! ",
3) " Maybe your brakes will fail tonite going home and you wont come back to work anymore...."
The stories I could tell.
but at those company gatherings...Dr. jekell/ Mr.
Hyde.
I have worked with some great gentlemen. Very far &
few between.
phxdr
7:54 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Having worked for a part time fire department in the area, I can say that this is not uncommon. I am not saying the woman is correct in this instance but can say that the public has very little idea of what goes on in "THEIR" firehouses. Pornography, inappropriate jokes are just the tip of the iceberg. In college we were taught, that the fire service is very slow to make changes (sometimes even if the change saves lives).
So in many cases, the fire service is still living in the 1960s with a good old boy way of thinking. Couple this thinking with women, minorities and it becomes a recipe for lawsuits in the fire station. The firefighters are going to have to change, understand its a place of WORK, its a job they are not entitled to and can be terminated from for inappropriate behavior.
Jennilin
7:54 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I agree with Richard. I only know one of the firefighters but this claim seems utterly preposterous.
Cindy
4:56 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I know these firefighters very well. One of them was named in previous harassment charges with other employees but the victim dropped the issue before going any farther, another one is a Nazi sympathizer who idolizes white supremists and is likely one himself, the previous acting chief is incompetent and thankfully the idiot trustees were savy enough to see through his self proclaimed bs, and the other firefighter has one ambition and that is to sell out anyone to become the fire chief. Wake up Orland residents, your fire department is being led by the least desireable people you can imagine.