Posted on 11/17/2006 7:02:53 AM PST by truthkeeper
"A black firefighter who was served dog food in his spaghetti by fellow firefighters will be paid more than $2.7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging racial harassment within the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The award, approved on an 11-1 vote Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council, is the latest in a recent string of settlements of lawsuits by firefighters claiming discrimination and harassment and retaliation against those who complain..."
It is believed to be the largest payout for misconduct in the department's history, which was long considered among the nation's finest, but has often been the target of complaints about hostility toward African American and female firefighters.
Firefighter Tennie Pierce, 51, alleged in his lawsuit that Firefighter Jorge Arevalo mixed canned dog food into Pierce's dinner at their Westchester station two years ago; that Capt. John Tohill purchased the dog food; and that Capt. Chris Burton knew about the prank but didn't warn Pierce. All three men were present when Pierce ate the dog food.
Pierce "took a large bite, at which time he noticed the other firefighters were laughing and making noises," the lawsuit says. He took a second bite, then demanded to know what was in his food, "but no one would tell him." Pierce then left the kitchen "with his co-workers laughing at him..."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I notice there is NOT ONE WORD MENTIONED in the above Times article about the fireman's nickname, "The Big Dog," and that he repeatedly challenged his competitors to "feed the big dog" during the volleyball match. Many have claimed the fireman complied in what was no more than a good-natured prank. Of course the Times' liberal bias would not allow them to present this crucial element of the story. (Which is why I haven't subscribed to this rag in over 6 years; I'd rather read toilet paper.)
Additionally, I haven't yet been able to find one single follow-up story mentioning the not-insignificant fact that another anonymous source mailed talkshow hosts John and Ken pictures of the plaintiff fireman participating in MANY prior firehouse pranks inflicted on other firemen, which included some pretty hot stuff. If you want to actually see the pictures for yourself, go to www.johnandkenshow.com and click on the appropriate links, which are all over the place. This guy has been an active participant in these sort of pranks and looks to me like a grifter who pulled off a serious con job (if not outright fraud) on the L.A. council idiots.
These people have absolutely no shame and I am disgusted...everyone is. We're talking some serious recall here, you people.
And how is this a racial incident?
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
"If there's Alpo in the sauce, you must show 'the man' who's boss!"
Having been a fireman and reading this I can almost gurantee this was not racially motivated but just his turn to have his bed short sheeted, sort of speak.
I don't know. Does Uncle Ben's or Aunt Jemima make dog food?
You owe me a new keyboard!
Real funny joke. How to become an instant millionaire.
My disgust at this weak-kneed capitulation by our City Attorney and his co-horts on the City Council knows no bounds.
Do you wish to comment on this vomit-inducing settlement? (I'm surprised I haven't seen anything posted here; I finally got so fed up this morning I figured I had to do it.)
Say ... you don't suppose I'm being discriminated against, do you?
Did I forget to mention that he will retire now? With his full pension as well?
...class case study.
Think of the outrage if he was given watermelon or fried chicken.
Hubby is a 33 yr retired firefighter. You never knew what was gonna happen in their station. They also say really bad things to each other........all in fun.
I walked into the station one day and walked over to the kitchen faucet to get a drink. When I turned it on it went everywhere. I was soaking wet! Hubby's firefighter came running thru the door screaming at me to turn it off, all the while apologizing....it was meant for someone else and I got caught in the middle. Was really hilarious.
That stuff goes on all the time at a station. These men deal in death and tragedy on a daily basis and I believe it is just one way of keeping their sanity. You really do have to understand it.....and apparently, sadly this firefighter that sued didn't.
Also, anyone ever watch "Rescue Me"? It is actually a pretty true description of the way firefighters treat each other. They go a little "out there" sometimes but if you just tone it down a bit, it is pretty accurate.
Dennis Leary gets most of his story lines from real firefighters. They write him and tell him of bizarre calls they have been on.
And when a bunk of boys are running the show it gets worse: this one summer for some crazy reason we would sneak up on each other with one of those big staple guns and well, my tail tells the tale.
Ahhh so I thought it was just firefighters.....it is men masquerading as boys. rofl
"This behaivor is not limited to firefighters..."
No kidding. Nothing like finding an anchovy in your Coke. Blechh!!
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