By Emily Gurnon
Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Copyright 2007 Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS — The city of Minneapolis has settled the fourth and last remaining discrimination lawsuit against it and former fire chief Bonnie Bleskachek.
The City Council voted to pay firefighter Elondo J. Wright $55,000, to move back his seniority date and to remove from his personnel file all negative job evaluations from the time he was under the supervision of Bleskachek’s girlfriend, fire Capt. Mary Maresca.
Wright filed the suit last November, alleging that Bleskachek and Maresca gave him bad reviews, harassed and humiliated him, and stymied his professional advancement.
Three women firefighters also sued, portraying Bleskachek as someone who brought her romantic life into the fire stations and punished employees through personal vendettas. A former domestic partner of Bleskachek’s, Jennifer Cornell, and Kathleen Mullen alleged that Bleskachek stood in the way of their promotions when she threw out test scores for hiring new battalion chiefs. Kristina Lemon alleged she faced retaliation after rejecting the chief’s sexual advances.
Cornell’s case was settled for $65,000, Mullen’s for $29,000, and Lemon’s for $35,000.
Bleskachek, 43, was demoted late last year to staff captain and will never be allowed to supervise other workers in the department.