A former Topeka deputy fire chief is seeking more than $1.3 million in a federal discrimination lawsuit filed against Topeka and a firefighters union.
The lawsuit was filed by Kathy Petty, a former deputy chief of the fire department, against the city and the Local 83 of the International Association of Firefighters.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the lawsuit accuses the city of gender discrimination and retaliation. And it claims the union supported the city’s actions to terminate Petty and hire less-qualified men.
City spokesman David Bevens says the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
Randy Phillips, president of the union, referred calls to the union’s lawyer, who did not immediately return a message.
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