Orland Fire Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

A lawsuit alleging unfair treatment and a hostile workplace against an Orland Fire Protection District lieutenant has been settled.

Lt. Terri Simone-Lorenz, who has served with the district since 1994, filed the lawsuit in Oct. 2012. Early in 2013, the suit was amended to include names of three current Orland Fire battalion chiefs, and one former battalion chief.

On Nov. 20, allegations detailed in the suit against Orland Fire battalion chiefs Raymond Kay, Nick Cinquepalmi and Michael Schofield, as well as retired battalion chief Steve Smith, were dismissed.

As part of the settlement, Simone-Lorenz will remain with the district during 2014, and will be able to retire with her full pension. Her attorney’s fees will also be covered in the settlement, according to Orland Fire attorney Jim Roche.

Further details about the settlement were not available.

“This litigation would’ve been costly to taxpayers,” Roche said. “We’re glad it was resolved so we can put it behind us and move on.”

Dana Kurtz, the attorney who represented Simone-Lorenz, declined to comment on the suit’s settlement.

The suit claimed that Simone-Lorenz was slandered and ostracized by other firefighters and was punished when she tried voicing complaints with supervisors, as well as other claims.

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