Discrimination Lawsuit Against Town And Fire Department

CRISFIELD -- A woman who claims she was turned down three times by the Crisfield Fire Department to serve as a volunteer firefighter has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Juanita Nelson claims fire department members voted against her because if a woman was in the department, "it will never be the same."

The lawsuit names the fire department, the city of Crisfield -- because it owns the department building and equipment -- and members Ronnie Hinman, Larry Tyler and Charles Cavanaugh.

But city attorney Robin Cockey said the fire department uses a democratic process to admit new members, and that events "did not occur as the plaintiff alleges."

"The fire department and the city vehemently deny any misconduct or wrongdoing," he said.

According to the lawsuit, Nelson enrolled in a firefighter training course and passed in the Top 10 in her class. She also met all of the physical requirements.

Nelson is a 9-year member and volunteer EMT with the Lower Somerset County Ambulance and Rescue Squad in Crisfield.

She first applied for membership in the Crisfield Fire Department in January 2008 but was told she did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote from members.

She was turned down again in August 2008 and February 2009, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges Hinman, known as "Pork Chop," began soliciting older, nonactive members of the fire department who don't normally attend meetings to turn out to vote against Nelson's application.

Among the older members reportedly attending were Bobby Tawes, Larry Tyler and Richard Scott, a former mayor of Crisfield.

"One of them openly expressed that 'if we let a female in here, it will never be the same again,' " the lawsuit claims.

But Scott said Monday he has not been to a fire department meeting in the past six or seven years.

After Nelson was denied for a third time, she asked Fire Chief Bill Reynolds for another application but was reportedly told the department was not accepting new applicants. The department allegedly admitted two male members the month before, according to the lawsuit.

Nelson is seeking $3 million in compensatory damages, $1.5 million in punitive damages and attorney fees and expenses.
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