Excerpts from patch.com:
A recent legal battle has emerged involving the estate of a Hinsdale firefighter who died by suicide, alleging that she faced sex-based discrimination during her time with the department. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, names the village and her supervisor, Lieutenant Joseph McCarthy, as defendants.
Nicole Hladik, a 25-year-old graduate of Lyons Township High School, was the only female firefighter in the Hinsdale Fire Department and the third woman to ever serve there. She joined the department in 2019 and was on track to complete her probation and become a permanent firefighter. Tragically, she passed away on July 21, 2020. Her husband, Daniel Zaborowski, serves as the court-appointed administrator of her estate and is listed as the plaintiff in the case.
The lawsuit includes statements Hladik wrote before her death, which reportedly expressed deep despair. She wrote, “Work has destroyed me,†and “I cannot take one more single day. Almost everyone at work will only be relieved.†In a postscript, she added, “You’re welcome Lieutenant, I’m gone. I’m no longer your problem. You win.â€
In response, the village released a statement saying it had conducted an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. According to the statement, the fire department treated Hladik fairly and respectfully. During her first six months, she performed well and met or exceeded expectations for a probationary firefighter. However, shortly after being transferred to the Black shift in early 2020, the lawsuit claims she faced a pattern of hostile behavior, including hazing, public humiliation, and gender-based discrimination.
The suit alleges that her supervisor, McCarthy, subjected her to verbal confrontations, embarrassing interrogations about her knowledge of firefighting procedures, and even forced her to perform a task under impossible conditions—like wearing a blindfold while operating a fire hose in a simulation. She was given a failing score and told to quit, despite the task being inherently unfair. As her probation neared its end, she was placed on a performance improvement plan that was designed to pressure her out of the department.
The lawsuit states that Hladik had already filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2021, exhausting all administrative remedies before filing the lawsuit. The village denies these allegations, insisting that Hladik's work requirements were the same as those for other firefighters.
No trial date has been set yet, and the plaintiff is seeking both compensatory and economic damages. In the months following Hladik’s death, the Village Board authorized an independent investigation into the fire department, initially setting a budget of $60,000, which was later increased to $110,000. The final cost of the investigation came to $103,252, and it was conducted by the Chicago-based law firm Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker, Poulos and Campbell.
In its statement, the village extended condolences to Hladik’s family and said it had interviewed staff and reviewed records as part of the investigation. However, the family declined multiple requests for interviews. The report concluded that Hladik was treated fairly and that her performance standards were consistent with those of other employees. The village also refused to release the full investigation report, citing attorney-client privilege.
During a September 2020 interview, Brad Bloom, the village’s assistant manager, stated that some operational issues were identified, but no specific individuals were accused of wrongdoing. He emphasized that there were no integrity concerns within the organization at the time.
This tragic case highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring equal treatment and support for women in male-dominated professions like firefighting.
Thanks Scott
Bottle Lights,Christmas Tree Glass Bottle,Electroplated Glass Bottle,Cone Shape Glass Bottle
Xuzhou Bolite Import & Export Trading Co.,Ltd. , https://www.xzbltglass.com