A former firefighter in Providence who was a victim of sexual harassment and gender discrimination has been awarded with over $800,000. The retiree filed a lawsuit case against the city in 2012, accusing her co-workers of the said mistreatment.
Lt. Lori Franchina, a retired firefighter in Rhode Island, Povidence said she was sexually harassed and discriminated by her colleagues because she is a woman and a lesbian, Fox News reported. She stated on her lawsuit that she suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder and said her superiors ignored her complaints.
On Monday, Franchina was awarded with $806,000 by the panel, in which she sought for emotional and punitive damages in addition to her "future wages". Franchina said she could have earned the money if she hadn't taken the decision to have an early retirement, WPRI.com reported.
The former firefighter filed the lawsuit in 2012 and took her retirement in 2013. She said, she had endured the years of mistreatment such as being called with lewd names, insubordination, harassment and discrimination.
"It had an effect almost every day, it breaks you. It wears you down. You still try to come to work every day and do your job well," Franchina said, as Daily Mail quoted. She also claimed on her lawsuit that a co-firefighter snapped his rubber glove and launched a brain matter and blood on her face back in 2009. A 2006 incident was also cited on the court filing, stating her male colleagues declined to help her while saving a patient.
Andre Ferro was the only firefighter named as defendant on her lawsuit. However, the city, which was also named on lawsuit, said the plaintiff was known "to be difficult to get along with". They also claimed, Franchina did not file a complaint with its Equal Employment Opportunity officer. Emily Cowells, the spokeswoman for the city said, it will file an appeal.
