By 
The San Diego City Council just paid out a $250,000 settlement for a victim of sexual harassment and retaliation to a veteran firefighter. Captain Sarah Alfaro of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, a 19-year veteran of protecting the San Diego area and its citizens, received the sexual harassment settlement after suffering from years of harassment in the workplace.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Captain Alfaro had been harassed by fellow male comrades as they “groped…, and had her clothing unzipped.” According to Captain Alfaro’s 45-page suit filed in 2018, one department chief heavily pursued her in an attempt to get her to go out with him.
Furthermore, in 2016, Captain Alfaro also claimed to have had her buttocks slapped by male firefighters’ multiple times. On another occasion, Captain Alfaro received a phone call from one of her superiors to ask that she send him a pair of her dirty underwear. On a different occasion, Captain Alfaro was also sent sexually driven and inappropriate text messages. One of these text messages she received included an image of “exposed genitalia.”
Captain Alfaro’s lawsuit claimed she was retaliated against by not being promoted, when she was more than qualified, and did not receive special assignments. Her suit claimed that pay disparity based on her gender was also part of the retaliation she had to tolerate during her career with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
The San Diego Union-Tribune also detailed that Captain Alfaro reported to one of her superiors about the conditions she was facing within her workplace. However, the matter became public and this is what Alfaro claimed jumpstarted the retaliation against her.
This isn’t the only settlement award that the city of San Diego has had to dole out. Since 2016, the San Diego has paid nearly $1.8 million to victims of sexual harassment who worked for the city. This amount includes Captain Alfaro’s settlement.
Do you have a sexual harassment claim? For questions, send us a message or fill out our free form below for a free consultation with a top NYC employment law firm.
Comments