Judge bars files from public in suit

By AARON LEO
Article Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2003 - 6:51:12 AM EST

BRIDGEPORT - The judge in the federal sex discrimination lawsuit filed by two female firefighters against the city Fire Department has issued a protective order barring attorneys from publicizing a small number of documents in the case.

Robert Mitchell, the city's counsel, had sought an order barring attorneys in the suit from leaking any documents related to it.

The order covers all documents taken from the office of the Bridgeport Fire Fighters Association Local 834, said attorney Susan V. Wallace, who filed the suit.

But those documents make up only a small portion of the paper evidence in the case, she said.

A full order "would have created some serious constitutional problems," she said. "You can't bottle up the public's right to know in a democracy. It's just that simple."

Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello notified attorneys for both sides of the ruling Oct. 29, Wallace said.

Mitchell said he is not concerned about the ruling.

"I don't have much of an opinion," he said. "It may cause difficulties with the jury pool if information is released. It's not something I'm terribly worked up about."

In the 2001 lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Hartford, firefighters Johanna S. Georgia and Elizabeth O'Connell claim male colleagues, including Fire Chief Michael Maglione, practiced "systematic, widespread, long-term discrimination against women and minorities."

They claim 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 nondiscrimination policy toward women.

They also seek unspecified punitive damages.

The case hasn't gone to trial.

Meanwhile, Wallace said Georgia recently complained to the state Labor Department that the union failed to represent her in several grievances she has filed against the department over several years. Wallace is not representing her in that case.

Georgia alleges the union and the Board of Fire Commissioners have not addressed her complaints. The board is the first city panel to hear grievances.

Georgia is on sick leave because of a service-related injury.

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