Former Ventura County, California Firefighter Will Receive 150,000 In Suit

March 10, 2005
A former Ventura County firefighter will receive $150,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed she was racially harassed.

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) -- A former Ventura County firefighter will receive $150,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed she was racially harassed.

The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to settle the claim by Melvina K. Lay, 45, of Los Angeles.

Lay, who is black, was a firefighter from 1991 to 2002. In a lawsuit filed last year, Lay alleged she was ridiculed, called racial epithets, given the worst assignments and faced retaliation for complaining about harassment.

Alan Wisotsky, an Oxnard attorney who handled the case for the county, said the Fire Department was unaware of any problems because Lay filed her suit two years after retiring because of a work-related injury.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!