A jury awarded $3.35 million Wednesday to a former Circleville firefighter who sued the city, alleging years of harassment and discrimination, including unwanted sexual advances, denied promotions and bodily fluids on her belongings.
Amie Morningstar, 38, of Circleville, the first full-time female firefighter on that community’s force, filed suit in late 2015 and was fired in early 2016, said her attorney, Brian K. Duncan.
“She feels vindicated,” Duncan told The Dispatch. “After 15 years, her complaints have finally been heard, and they’ve been heard loud and clear.”
Legal counsel for the Circleville fire and EMS departments and Chief Marc Zingarelli could not immediately be reached to comment.
According to court documents, Morningstar began volunteering as a Circleville emergency responder in 2001, finished firefighting school and was hired as a full-time firefighter in early 2007.