Paul Gonclavez (also the President of the fire association), Fire Commissioner Malcolm Brown, and Deputy Chief Oliver Uy, according to the lawsuit. Valenzuela’s alleged behavior was witnessed by Lt. She claimed that her efforts to physically push Valenzuela away were met with bystanders’ laughter. In her lawsuit, Kira Castellon, who began her employment on May 5, 2015, said that she was the first woman ever employed by the fire company as a firefighter and that it was generally known to her coworkers that she was a lesbian.Īfter the fire chief promoted her to the position of Safety Officer, Castellon claimed that a newly hired employee, Cesar Valenzuela-Sihuas (“Valenzuela”), subjected her to a “campaign of sexual harassment.” According to Castellon, this included nearly daily instances of Valenzuela’s unwanted advances, which included groping, kissing, and pelvic thrustings, licking her face as a greeting, unwarranted hugs, and breast groping. agreed to pay $325,000 to settle a female firefighter’s sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit. 3 (Middlesex County, NJ) and Arbor Hose Company No.

PISCATAWAY, NJ - On May 23, 2023, Piscataway Township Fire District No.

By: John Paff, Chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project

Evesham township school district