$6.2 million award in LA lesbian firefighter suit

A jury has found that the Los Angeles Fire Department failed to protect the civil rights of a firefighter who was harassed by coworkers because she is a lesbian and Black and awarded Brenda Lee $6.2 million. Lee alleged in her lawsuit that her superiors made derogatory comments about her, ignored her protests of discrimination. The lawsuit said that she was forced her into grueling drills that other firefighters were not subjected to and that proper safety precautions during the drills were ignored. The suit also claimed that someone at the fire hall put urine in her mouthwash. A spokesperson for city attorney Jonathan Diamond said the city would "review its options going forward," and left open the possibility of an appeal. Lee filed a discrimination case in 2001 and later the civil lawsuit alleging she had been the victim of homophobic bias on the job. Two other firefighters who testified in the discrimination case also filed lawsuits against the department claiming that as a result of their support for Lee they too became victims of discrimination. Lewis Bressler sued the city claiming he had been forced to retire as a result of testifying for Lee. A jury in April awarded him $1.7 million. The verdict is under appeal. A second firefighter, Gary Mellinger, settled his lawsuit last year for $350,000.