Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A former duty chief with the Topeka Fire Department has settled a portion of her federal gender discrimination lawsuit by dismissing the union from the action.
Deputy Fire Chief Kathy Petty was terminated from the department in February, 2010 during what was termed a budget-driven workforce reduction exercise conducted by the city. She claims the city’s real motive was sexual discrimination and retaliation, and filed a $1.3 million suit against both the city and IAFF Local 83, who she claims supported the city’s actions against her.
The Topeka Capitol Journal is reporting that Chief Petty has reached a mediated settlement with IAFF Local 83, and Local 83 has been dismissed from the case. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed but the paper quoted a court order as saying: “Plaintiff entered into a settlement with Local 83 but the mediation was not successful regarding Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant City of Topeka. Plaintiff and the City have not exchanged further settlement proposals since the mediation.”
