Excerpts from patch.com:
A lawsuit has been filed by the estate of a 25-year-old Hinsdale firefighter, Nicole Hladik, who died by suicide in July 2020. The suit claims she was subjected to sex-based discrimination during her time with the fire department.
Hladik, a graduate of Lyons Township High School, was the only female firefighter in the department and the third woman ever to serve there. She joined the force in 2019 and had just completed her probation when she passed away. Her husband, Daniel Zaborowski, is serving as the court-appointed administrator of her estate and is listed as the plaintiff in the federal case.
In the days before her death, Hladik reportedly wrote messages that expressed deep despair, including “Work has destroyed me†and “I cannot take one more single day.†In one note, she added, “P.S. You’re welcome Lieutenant, I’m gone. I’m no longer your problem. You win.â€
The village of Hinsdale responded to the allegations by stating it had conducted an internal investigation into Hladik’s death. According to their statement, the fire department treated her fairly and respectfully throughout her tenure. During her first six months, she performed well on the Gold shift, meeting all expectations for a probationary firefighter and showing promise of becoming a permanent member of the department.
However, the lawsuit claims that after being transferred to the Black shift in early 2020, under the supervision of Lieutenant McCarthy, Hladik faced a pattern of hostile behavior, hazing, and sexual discrimination. The suit alleges that she was treated differently than male colleagues, with McCarthy publicly humiliating her during training exercises and questioning her competence in front of other firefighters.
One particularly controversial incident involved Hladik being required to operate a fire hose while blindfolded in a simulated scenario. She was given a failing grade and told to quit, despite the task being nearly impossible. As she neared the end of her probation, the lawsuit claims she was placed on a performance improvement plan designed to embarrass and pressure her out of the department.
The lawsuit also states that Hladik had previously filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2021, exhausting all administrative remedies before proceeding with the legal action. The village, however, denies these claims, insisting that Hladik met all job requirements and that her work environment was fair and consistent with its standards.
As of now, no trial date has been set, and the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and economic damages. Following Hladik’s death, the Village Board authorized an investigation into the fire department, initially setting a budget of $60,000, which was later increased to $110,000. The total spent came to $103,252, with the investigation conducted by a Chicago-based law firm.
In a public statement, the village expressed condolences to Hladik’s family and confirmed that they had hired an independent investigator to look into the circumstances surrounding her death. The report included interviews with staff and a review of records, but the family declined multiple requests to be interviewed. The village refused to release the full report, citing attorney-client privilege.
While the village has not made many details public, assistant manager Brad Bloom mentioned in a 2020 interview that some operational issues were identified, prompting the need for an independent review. He emphasized that no specific individuals were accused and that there were no integrity concerns at the time.
Thanks, Scott
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