A Pennsylvania firefighter who claims she was the first woman hired by the New Castle Fire Department in its 150-year history has filed a new federal lawsuit against the city and several officials alleging sex and disability discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and failure to accommodate her Asperger’s Syndrome.

The allegations will be familiar to regular Fire Law Blog readers. We covered Anne M. Papa’s claims against New Castle in November 2025, when she filed an earlier suit challenging the department’s efforts to require her to undergo additional testing before returning to duty. In that suit she sought a restraining order and injunction to prevent her from undergoing the testing. Readers interested in the background and the factual allegations that led to the current litigation can review our earlier posting.

The new suit was filed by Papa in US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against the City of New Castle, the New Castle Fire Department, City Administrator Chris Frye, and two assistant chiefs. Papa was employed as a firefighter from October 31, 2023 through April 23, 2026.

The complaint recounts much of the same history addressed in the earlier suit, asserting employment discrimination claims under federal and Pennsylvania law. According to the complaint, Papa graduated from a fire academy, obtained multiple certifications, successfully completed the physical fitness requirements for New Castle, and passed the written civil service examination.

Papa’s allegations arise from her hiring as New Castle’s first female firefighter, the opposition she claims she encountered before and after being hired, her difficulties with two assistant chiefs, her efforts to join the firefighters’ union, and the harassment and disparate treatment she claims followed.

Papa subsequently sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. She requested an ADA accommodation that included reassignment to a different shift and education for her coworkers concerning her disability. Although the city initially indicated the accommodation would be provided, Papa alleges she remained on administrative leave and was later required to undergo additional testing before being permitted to return to duty.

Those events were what triggered Papa’s earlier litigation against New Castle, (covered here in November 2025). The new complaint adds what followed. Papa alleges that the additional testing she was required to undergo was pretextual and intended to create a basis for terminating her because of her sex, disability, accommodation request, and complaints about her treatment. Her employment ended on April 23, 2026.

Papa filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission alleging sex and disability discrimination. The EEOC issued a notice of right to sue on May 28, 2026. The new federal suit alleges sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act, retaliation, and related violations of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

Papa is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, back pay and other economic damages, reinstatement or front pay, attorney’s fees and costs, and prejudgment and post-judgment interest.