A paramedic formerly employed by the Gary Fire Department has filed suit in federal court alleging that the department failed to stop months of sexual harassment, retaliated against her after she complained, and ultimately terminated her employment.

Sarah Cannon filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against Gary Mayor Eddie D. Melton, in his official capacity, and the Gary Fire Department. The complaint alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

According to the complaint, Ms. Cannon was employed as a paramedic in the EMS Division of the Gary Fire Department. She alleges that she repeatedly reported being sexually harassed by another department employee, but that the department failed to take timely action to protect her or address the misconduct. Quoting from the complaint:

• Ms. Cannon, was, at the time of the incident described herein, employed as a paramedic in the EMS division of the Gary Fire Department.
• Plaintiff was being sexually harassed by an employee of the Gary Fire Department which she reported to her supervisors.
• The Gary Fire Department, although aware of the sexual harassment, initially took no action to address it or to discipline the harasser.
• Ms. Cannon complained for numerous months that she was being sexually harassed which included, inter alia, the harasser making death threats to her and sending her texts saying that he would rape her and sending her nude pictures of himself.
• Despite Cannon’s reports and complaints, The Gary Fire Department took no action to protect Cannon from sexual harassment.
• Plaintiff asked the Gary Fire Department to move the harasser to a different location within the department or to move her.
• The Gary Fire Department refused to move Cannon or the harasser.
• Cannon eventually obtained an order of protection against her harasser.
• It was only after Cannon obtained an Order of Protection, that the Gary Fire Department eventually fired the harasser.
• Almost immediately after terminating her harasser, the Gary Fire Department began to discipline Cannon for minor infractions.
• Male employees were not disciplined for similar infractions.
• Plaintiff was targeted by the Gary Fire Department due to her complaints about the sexual harassment she endured.
• Ms. Cannon was written up and suspended and eventually terminated by the defendant, Gary Fire Department.
• Male employees who committed on the job infractions which were similar to the alleged infractions that Ms. Cannon was written up for, were not suspended and terminated.

Ms. Cannon discrimination on the basis of her gender by allowing a sexually hostile work environment to exist and by failing to address the alleged harassment despite repeated complaints. She further alleges that the department retaliated against her for reporting the harassment by disciplining her for infractions that similarly situated male employees were not disciplined for, and that those disciplinary actions ultimately resulted in her termination.

In addition to her Title VII claim, Ms. Cannon asserts a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. She alleges that the discrimination and retaliation occurred pursuant to a policy, custom, or practice of the City of Gary and the Gary Fire Department, depriving her of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. She further alleges that the defendants acted under color of state law and that their actions caused her emotional distress, humiliation, lost wages, lost benefits, and other damages.

The complaint seeks reinstatement, back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, costs, and injunctive relief prohibiting the alleged discriminatory practices. Ms. Cannon has also demanded a jury trial.