Mistrial Declared in Firefighter Harassment Case
Previously here on the Blawg, we reported on a sexual harassment case brought by four firefighters who were forced to participate in San Diego’s annual gay pride parade.
Yesterday, a mistrial was declared when the jury couldn’t reach a decision after four days of deliberations.
The plaintiffs were seeking up to $4 million in damages. They alleged they were forced to participate despite prior complaints about the parade and were exposed to humiliating taunts and gestures.
The city’s attorney, Michael Aguirre, called the mistrial a “total victory” and said the case was “about greed.” He compared the parade to other city-sanctioned events such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the Fourth of July and said the plaintiffs were uncomfortable about the city’s policy prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination.
The firefighters’ attorney, Charles LiMandri, said the mistrial was “extremely frustrating.”
A new trial is scheduled for January 2009.
