Washington Firefighter/EMT Denied Public Safety Job Because Of Bad Vision To Get $34,800

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Severe vision problems in one eye should not have ruled out an applicant for a public safety job, a Pierce County Superior Court has ruled.

Chris Lorenz, 35, of Roy, was awarded $34,800 in damages following a two-week trial last week. The jury voted 11 to 1 to find that he was wrongly subjected to discrimination because of disability.

Lorenz, who lacks depth perception and some peripheral vision in his right eye because of a fall onto a piece wire at age 3, has been a firefighter and paramedic with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue for nearly three years since he was rejected for a job in nearby Steilacoom.

Documents filed in the case showed he was ranked second out of 14 candidates for a combination firefighter, emergency medical service in Steilacoom, and his references were excellent.

He was offered the job, contingent on a background check, psychological tests and a physical examination, but after a vision test he was told he failed to meet the minimum recommended for firefighters in the state.

Town officials also questioned whether he could function safely with firearms in police work.

Lorenz countered that he has fired weapons recreationally from age 9 or 10, and doctors testified that his left eye could compensate for the injured one and that police officers with similar vision problems have been successful.

``I can shoot as well as anybody,'' Lorenz said.

His lawyer, David E. Breskin, said the state standards are guidelines rather than requirements and argued that Steilacoom officials should have sought a second opinion.

In any event, Lorenz said after the verdict, he no longer wants to work for the town.

``All we were working toward was getting them to admit they were wrong,'' he said. ``I didn't want this to set precedent.''

Information from: The News Tribune