IA Firefighter Awarded $575K in Discrimination, Harassment Suit

A jury awarded Dubuque firefighter Jami Boss $575,000 after she filed a sexual harassment and discrimination civil suit against the City of Dubuque and Fire Chief Rick Steines.

The civil trial for Boss lasted eight days and took the jury just over 24 hours to reach their findings.

Boss told the Telegraph Herald she hopes the verdict will "hold somebody accountable" for the sexual harassment and discrimination that she endured.

"I feel like this is the first time someone really listened to my story," she said. "And I'm thankful that they understood what happened to me and the environment (at the fire department)."

The city released a statement highlighting what the jury awarded Boss including, $50,000 for gender discrimination, $75,000 for sexual harassment and emotional distress, $150,000 for gender discrimination, and $300,000 for sexual harassment.

Boss filed her suit in 2020 alleging she endured years of sexual harassment and accused the city of violating the Iowa Civil Rights Act for sex discrimination and retaliation.

The jury concluded that Boss proved her claims of sexual discrimination and harassment, but failed to prove retaliation.