Former firefighter sues L.A. County over colleague’s alleged homophobic behavior

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 Court docket lists a sequence of occasions over six years that Guilherme Guimaraes claims violated his rights below the Truthful Employment and Housing Act.

The Los Angeles County Fireplace Division mentioned it doesn’t touch upon pending litigation.

In 2017, Guimaraes was pressured to take 20 months of medical go away after he developed aplastic anemia after being uncovered to poisonous smoke and benzene on the job, based on the lawsuit.

Guimaraes returned to his duties at Marina del Rey, however allegedly confronted difficulties together with his obligatory 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.

Despite the fact that Guimaraes is straight, the lawsuit mentioned, Barnett’s feedback “struck a private chord with [him], who has a relative who’s homosexual, making him really feel significantly uncomfortable and unwelcome within the station.”

Regardless of complaints made about Barnett’s alleged harassment, Guimaraes’ go well with 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 footage of his youngsters 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 fireplace stations in 2022. The go well with 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 fireplace 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 pressured to proceed working shifts alongside Barnett.

Guimaraes was as soon as extra relocated in September to a hearth station in Chatsworth, the place he discovered a toy rat as he packed his belongings, based on the lawsuit. The stress from the alleged incidents and the shortage of correct accountability pressured Guimaraes to take a go away over stress, the go well with claims.

The lawsuit mentioned Guimaraes is looking for greater than $25,000 in compensation for his losses in additional time pay in addition to injury to his skilled profession and status, which have an effect on his revenue and retirement advantages.