The Justice Department has sued the city of Houston over sex discrimination claims launched by two female firefighters who say their male coworkers tormented them by urinating on the women's bathroom walls and sinks and scrawling vulgar slurs on their belongings. Male firefighters allegedly turned off the cold water in showers to scald their female coworkers and disconnected speakers to prevent women from responding to calls in a string of bad behavior that eventually escalated to death threats, according to the lawsuit. "Far too often, women are targeted and harassed in the workplace because of their sex," said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. "Employees have the right to work in an environment that is free from sex discrimination and retaliation."