The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council has voted unanimously to pay $8.1 million to two firefighters who won separate discrimination and retaliation lawsuits against the fire department in 2007.
Council members on Wednesday approved a $4.8 million payment to Capt. Frank Lima and a $3.3 million payment to former firefighter Lewis “Steve” Bressler.
A jury awarded Lima $3.7 million two years ago after he accused department officials of retaliating against him when he refused to give female recruits preferential treatment.
Bressler’s original jury award was $1.7 million in 2007. He alleged that he was retaliated against for helping a colleague who alleged racial, gender and sexual-orientation discrimination.
The payouts include lawyers’ fees and interest.