L.A. fire captain awarded $3.75 million

Los Angeles Times ^ | 6/9/07 | Steve Hymon

[kiriath_jearim]

In the latest bizarre court case involving the Los Angeles Fire Department, a jury has awarded $3.75 million to a male fire captain who said he was retaliated against for not making training exercises easier for women.

Fire Capt. Frank Lima alleged in his lawsuit against the city that he was told by superiors that he shouldn't hold women to the same standards as men. The reason: The Fire Department was under pressure from City Hall to increase the number of women within its ranks.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Abathar]

Good for him. I don’t care if women are firefighters either, but if they can’t carry their partner down a set of stairs or lift a man off the floor and carry him out of a burning house then WTH are they doing there?

[r9etb]

The interesting thing about this sort of case is that it was decided as a civil suit -- the jury provides the common sense that the city officials cannot seem to find in their hallowed halls.

And, alas, I believe that the results of a civil suit have no general effect, and thus will not force any change in policies or procedures to implement the commonsense result.

[jazusamo]

Andy Fox, an assistant fire chief, told him that women have to be treated differently in order to boost their numbers.

Chief Fox screwed up big time and I believe this jury was smart enough to realize it. There's nothing wrong with women being firefighters as long as they can do the job as spelled out in the job requirements. Evidently this woman couldn't.

[gondramB]

I think I’m on his side. Why should there be either lower or higher standards depending on what sex you are?

[freespirited]

Good for him. I don’t care if women are firefighters either, but if they can’t carry their partner down a set of stairs or lift a man off the floor and carry him out of a burning house then WTH are they doing there?

You are such a Neanderthal. WTH are YOU doing here???

The women are there to provide diversity. How embarrassing to all of FReeperland that you dont know that.

/s

[glorgau]

but if they can’t carry their partner down a set of stairs or lift a man off the floor and carry him out of a burning house then WTH are they doing there?

How about break open an ice coated fire hydrant in the dead of winter? There are lots of physical tasks little girls can't do.

[Abathar]

Whew, almost had a flame war started, then I saw the /s.....

[Designer]

"..WTH are they doing there?"

Roger that, sir.

Designer says there are three occupations that women shouldn't do; soldier, policeman, and fireman.

Flame on if you think you must, but with a few exceptions, women should just stay the heck out of the way.

[Designer]

The women are there to provide diversity.

I have heard this so many times, I am going to start asking: "'splain to me why that is a good thing again?"

I haven't heard a coherent argument in favor of "diversity" yet.

[P90X]

Somethings are just too important for the politicians to screw up and a national referendum should be held on women serving in any of these roles. Gays too for that matter.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

One man fighting an evil system. One man who doesn’t want people to die because of political correctness.

[agrace]

Good point - it’s not like the flames burn any cooler when they see a woman fighting them.

[freespirited]

I haven't heard a coherent argument in favor of "diversity" yet.

Neither have I, but I sure have heard stupid, ridiculous, and incoherent ones.

The problem is that the Supreme Court buys this claptrap.

[fishbabe]

The same reason black criminals are in the LAPD....CUZ IT MAKES THE LIBS FEEEEEEEEL GOOD!!!!!!

[gcruse]

Sorry, but unless she’s a big bull dyke, I can’t see a female fireperson carrying me out a window and down a ladder.