Firefighters in gay pride parade were sexually harassed, jury says - Los Angeles Times
The four men sued the city after being ordered to drive a fire truck in the parade. The jury awards them $34,300 in damages.
By Tony Perry
February 19, 2009
Reporting from San Diego -- A Superior Court jury Tuesday found that four male firefighters were sexually harassed while driving a fire truck in the 2007 gay pride parade and were entitled to a combined $34,300 in damages from the city.
The four sued the city because they were ordered to drive the truck in the 90-minute parade even though firefighters in previous gay-pride parades had reported being taunted with sexual innuendoes.
The jury ruled that each of the four should receive $5,000. One should receive an additional $14,200 because he felt compelled to transfer to a different fire station after the incident, and another will receive $100 as reimbursement for a co-pay for a counseling session.
"The amount itself is not important -- the city disrespected these men and violated their rights," said their attorney, Charles LiMandri.
The Fire Department violated its own anti-sexual-harassment policy by forcing the four into the parade over their objections, the jury concluded after two days of deliberation.
A jury in September was unable to reach a verdict. In that trial, the firefighters' attorney asked the jury to award each firefighter from $500,000 to $1 million.
Since the lawsuit was filed, Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who marched in the parade, has changed departmental policy, making participation in parades voluntary. The city attorney's office, which represented the Fire Department in the lawsuit, plans an appeal.
