Remember the four San Diego firefighters who sued for sexual harassment because they marched in the gay pride parade? My hometown offered something of a split decision. While the jury did find that the firefighters were sexually harassed, the jury also determined the group must split $34,300 in damages. From the San Diego Union Tribune:
Nancy Chiquete, the jury foreperson, said reaching the decision was “not easy,” particularly because she said she lives in the city and knows its financial situation is not good.
But, Chiquete said, “I felt truly like these four men were wronged by the situation.” The case was first heard in September but that jury was unable to reach a verdict on the sexual harassment claim.
. . . The firefighters’ attorney, Charles LiMandri, said he and his clients were pleased. “We won on every issue. This is what we’ve been fighting for. It’s what we’ve been working for. It’s been what we’ve been hoping for,” LiMandri said. He acknowledged that the awarded damages were low, but said that wasn’t surprising given the poor state of the economy.
. . . [City Attorneys Don Shanahan and Kristin Zlotnik] said they were pleased with the damage total, but disappointed with the verdict and said they would appeal. “I’m looking forward to writing the appeal,” Zlotnik said outside the courtroom. “I feel very strongly that was not a hostile work environment sexual-harassment situation.”
One of the firefighters asked the judge to have the city pay his legal fees. I bet he did. Let’s work this out: $34,300 minus the 40% for the attorney equals $20,580. That number split between the four firefighters equals $5145 for each of them.
While the jury didn’t come back with the best outcome, the low damage total does broadcast inanity of the lawsuit as much as the poor state of the California economy.
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