Oregon Training Chief Seeks $1.25 Million Over Retaliation, Disability Bias, and Interference With Paid Leave After Reporting Workplace Bullying
A former division chief with the Ashland Fire & Rescue has filed suit against the city, alleging that after he was recruited from a neighboring department, he was terminated for reporting repeated workplace bullying by his supervisor and for requesting to use paid medical.
According to a complaint filed in Jackson County Circuit Court, Thomas McGowan joined Ashland Fire & Rescue in October 2023 as Division Chief for Training after being recruited by then-Fire Chief Ralph Sartain, with whom he had previously worked at the Medford Fire Department. Chief McGowan alleges that early in his tenure he came under the supervision of Operations Chief Marshall Rasor and was subjected to persistent verbal abuse, including yelling, door slamming, and hostile confrontations. The complaint alleges Chief Rasor also told others that Chief McGowan performed poorly, was poorly regarded by peers, and did not know how to “stay in his lane.”
Chief McGowan contends that Chief Rasor’s conduct violated the city’s Workplace Violence Prevention Policy, which prohibits verbal violence intended to cause psychological harm, including intimidating, belligerent, harassing, and bullying behavior. He alleges that he reported the conduct to Chief Sartain, who attempted to address the issue by changing the reporting structure so that Chief McGowan would report directly to Chief Sartain rather than to Chief Rasor. Despite that change, the complaint alleges the conduct continued.
The complaint states that when Chief Sartain prepared to retire in March 2025, he relayed Chief McGowan’s concerns about Chief Rasor to City Manager Sabrina Cotta because he was concerned Chief Rasor would become interim chief. Chief McGowan alleges no meaningful investigation followed, and that shortly after Chief Sartain’s retirement Chief Rasor was appointed Interim Fire Chief effective April 2, 2025.
Five days later, according to the complaint, Chief McGowan informed Chief Rasor that he would need shoulder surgery related to a longstanding rotator cuff injury and intended to use Oregon Paid Leave benefits, while trying to schedule the surgery outside wildfire season. He alleges Chief Rasor told him to proceed according to his family’s needs and not worry about department interests. Three days later, on April 10, 2025, Chief McGowan alleges he was presented with a termination letter signed by Cotta and Chief Rasor advising that his employment would end July 1, 2025 for budgetary reasons.
The complaint further alleges that at the time of the layoff there were several open positions within Ashland Fire & Rescue for which Chief McGowan was qualified, including a battalion chief opening, two firefighter positions, and the operations chief position Chief Rasor had vacated. Chief McGowan alleges that both he and the firefighters’ labor union informed Chief Rasor that he was interested in remaining employed in one of those positions, but Chief Rasor refused to consider him.
Chief McGowan’s lawsuit asserts eight claims under Oregon law, including retaliation for opposing unlawful employment practices, whistleblower retaliation, retaliation under Oregon OSHA, interference with Paid Leave Oregon rights, retaliation for invoking Paid Leave Oregon protections, disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation for invoking disability-related rights. He seeks up to $750,000 in economic damages, $500,000 in noneconomic damages, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief.
