Ex NJ Firefighter Gets $750K Settlement in Racial Slur Lawsuit

A former Trenton firefighter has received a settlement of $750,000 in a lawsuit he filed against the department after overhearing a racial slur.

According to the website news agency NJ.com, Jesse Diaz was a firefighter in Trenton in 2012 when he overheard a fellow firefighter use a racial slur during a telephone call. From there, Diaz told the website that after he reported the incident to his superiors he was harassed and forced to retire.

According to the report, Diaz filed a civil lawsuit in 2014. In that lawsuit, Diaz said he initially complained about the incident to his captain and was told it would be handled in house. Unhappy with the response, he reported the matter to Trenton fire chiefs.

After making the formal complaint, Diaz said he was forced to clean for hour despite being a senior firefighter, the website reported. He eventually retired. This week, a six-person jury ruled in his favor.

The jury awarded Diaz $500,000 for emotional distress and $250,00 in punitive damages while rejecting a claim for lost income, according to the website.