A former firefighter is suing Los Angeles County, alleging he was discriminated in opposition to over his incapacity and endured his co-worker’s homophobic harassment within the office.
The civil lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom lists a collection of occasions over six years that Guilherme Guimaraes claims violated his rights beneath the Honest Employment and Housing Act.
The Los Angeles County Fireplace Division stated it doesn’t touch upon pending litigation.
In 2017, Guimaraes was compelled to take 20 months of medical depart after he developed aplastic anemia after being uncovered to poisonous smoke and benzene on the job, in line with the lawsuit.
Guimaraes returned to his duties at Marina del Rey, however allegedly confronted difficulties along with his vital lodging, together with having a service canine and requiring a well-ventilated office. In February 2021, a brand new rent, Eric Barnett, joined the station and allegedly started making homophobic feedback round his colleagues together with Guimaraes, the lawsuit says.
Although Guimaraes is straight, the lawsuit stated, Barnett’s feedback “struck a personal chord with [him], who has a relative who is gay, making him feel particularly uncomfortable and unwelcome in the station.”
Regardless of complaints made about Barnett’s alleged harassment, Guimaraes’ swimsuit claims Barnett confronted no disciplinary measures and the conflicts between the 2 continued to escalate. The next month, Barnett allegedly retaliated in opposition to Guimaraes by tearing down photos of his kids in his locker, calling him a “rat” across the station and questioning the validity of Guimaraes’ medical incapacity.
Guimaraes, initially stationed in Marina del Rey, was relocated on short-term reassignments to North Hollywood, then Agoura Hills hearth stations in 2022. The swimsuit alleges that the division’s captains moved him in retaliation for talking up in opposition to Barnett’s homophobic feedback.
When Guimaraes returned to the hearth station in Marina del Rey, Barnett additionally returned and so did the harassment, he alleges within the lawsuit. In Could 2024, Guimaraes discovered a strap-on dildo in his locker, however alleged that no corrective motion was taken and he was compelled to proceed working shifts alongside Barnett.
Guimaraes was as soon as extra relocated in September to a fireplace station in Chatsworth, the place he discovered a toy rat as he packed his belongings, in line with the lawsuit. The stress from the alleged incidents and the shortage of correct accountability compelled Guimaraes to take a depart over stress, the swimsuit claims.
The lawsuit stated Guimaraes is looking for greater than $25,000 in compensation for his losses in time beyond regulation pay in addition to injury to his skilled profession and status, which have an effect on his revenue and retirement advantages.
