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Firefighter Settles for $1.5M in Dog Food Case

Fire officials called incident a prank

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 22, 2007 6:11 PM CDT
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(Newser) – An LA firefighter who sued over a meal mixed with dog food has settled with the city for $1.5 million, the Los Angeles Times reports. Fire officials called the dog food incident a prank, but Pierce alleged racism. The city offered $2.7million last year, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vetoed the amount and forced the last fire chief to retire.

In settling, the city avoids a trial that might have made public a history of discrimination cases—and cost the city millions more. Claims of race and gender bias ravaged the department this year and cost a total of $13.5 million. One councilman is baffled by legal fees billed for the Pierce case: "What did they do for $1.3 million? They didn't go to trial."

  (Associated Press)
Interim Los Angeles fire chief Douglas L. Barry, speaks during a news conference in a Monday, Dec. 4, 2006 photo, in Los Angeles. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, hoping to eradicate what critics have called a culture of discrimination, hazing and sexism, has chosen Douglas L. Barry, a 32-year veteran of the...
Interim Los Angeles fire chief Douglas L. Barry, speaks during a news conference in a Monday, Dec. 4, 2006 photo, in Los Angeles. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, hoping to eradicate what critics have called...   (Associated Press)
Los Angeles firefighter Tennie Pierce listens during a City Council meeting, Nov. 28, 2006, in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles City Attorneys office announced Friday Sept. 21, 2007, Pierce will receive a $1.459 million settlement from the city following a discrimination lawsuit. The settlement includes $65,000 in back...
Los Angeles firefighter Tennie Pierce listens during a City Council meeting, Nov. 28, 2006, in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles City Attorneys office announced Friday Sept. 21, 2007, Pierce will receive a...   (Associated Press)
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