BRIDGEPORT - City lawyers battling a federal sexual discrimination lawsuit against the Fire Department want the judge to bar all sides from publicizing case documents.

The plaintiffs' lawyer, Susan V. Wallace of Middletown, opposes the move.

Robert Mitchell of the local law firm of Pullman & Comley, representing the city, said he filed the motion last week at U.S. District Court in Hartford.

Chief District Judge Alfred V. Covello is handling the case.

"The purpose is to avoid abuse of discovery materials," Mitchell said. "It doesn't have any impact on press investigations or FOI laws."

Wallace said she supports a limited order, but opposes a total ban. The public has a right to know, she said.

"My clients oppose it. It's a flagrant attempt to put under the cloak of secrecy everything that should be out in public view," she said.

Wallace said that some of the materials prove her allegations of illegal discriminatory activities within the department.

In the 2001 lawsuit, female Firefighters Johanna S. Georgia and Elizabeth O'Connell claim male colleagues, including Chief Michael Maglione, practiced "systematic, widespread, long-term discrimination against women and minorities."

They allege the men intruded in and trashed their separate bathrooms and quarters; verbally harassed them on a computer bulletin board; watched and left pornography in plain view, despite their complaints. They said superior officers ignored their complaints.

The women are asking that fire officials stop discriminatory acts, and create and enforce a non-discrimination policy toward women.

They also seek unspecified punitive damages.

Mitchell has called the suit groundless, and said an instance of a document being leaked prompted him to seek the order. He cited an internal Fire Department memo published in a recent Fairfield County Weekly article.

Both Mitchell and Wallace said they would be willing to discuss what documents should be protected.

Mitchell said he had earlier sent Wallace a copy of the motion for her to review and discuss with him, but filed it last week because he had not heard from her.

Covello could hear arguments on the motion as early as this week, Wallace said.

Aaron Leo, who covers law enforcement issues, can be reached at 330-6222.