PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A former Rhode Island firefighter who said she suffered years of sexual harassment and gender discrimination by her colleagues has been awarded more than $800,000.
A jury handed up the award Monday after a nearly two-week trial.
Retired Providence Fire Lt. Lori Franchina filed suit in federal court in 2012 accusing her male colleagues of harassing and discriminating against her because she is a woman and a lesbian.
Franchina alleges she developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder because of the constant mistreatment. She says her superiors also failed to stop it.
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The city had said Franchina was known to be difficult to get along with and said she failed to lodge a complaint with the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity officer.
City spokeswoman Emily Crowell tells WPRI-TV they plan to appeal.
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