Civil SuitDisciplinary ActionDiscriminationMunicipal LiabilitySexual HarassmentSexual misconductWrongful termination

NJ Firefighter Sues Claiming Sexual Harassment

A New Jersey firefighter who was terminated last year, has filed suit in state court claiming sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Kira Castellon filed suit in Middlesex County Superior Court against Arbor Hose Company 1, Inc., Piscataway Fire District 3, and Piscataway Township.

The suit contends that between 2016 and 2019, Castellon was sexually harassed by a male firefighter on almost a daily basis. The harassment included groping, kissing, and “thrust[ing] his pelvis into her from all directions as his way of saying hello and goodbye.” The offensive behavior reportedly occurred in the presence of fire department officials, who did nothing to address it.

Castellon claims she was terminated for using the fire company’s tax-exempt number for personal purchases, but that the purchases in question were for legitimate fire company expenses. A copy of the complaint is not available.

More on the story.

Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. Besides his law degree, he has a MS in Forensic Psychology. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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