A Cook County jury awarded a suburban firefighter more than $11 million after she was sexually harassed and discriminated against at the Country Club Hills Fire Department.
The verdict was decided Monday evening and now, Dena Lewis says she’s relieved the 6 and a half year court battle is over—even though, she also acknowledges her career was destroyed as a result.
“It was my whole life,” Lewis said. “I’ve been doing this forever.”
Lewis’ father, grandfather and uncles were also firefighters. She said she followed in their footsteps but never thought her career would end like this.
“I felt vindicated it was vindication,” she continued.
The jury found the city of Country Club Hills and several firefighters liable for sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation.
“They destroyed my reputation… they took it apart piece by piece,” Lewis expressed.
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The victim says the harassment started on the first day she was hired in 1998.
Lewis claims a firefighter broke down the bathroom door while she was in the shower, called her names and even watched pornography inside the firehouse. When she complained, she said she was merely retaliated against.
“We have forensic evidence that they were watching pornography and then we had the documents that she was disciplined, so I think the jury saw pretty quickly in the trial that the evidence was there,” said Lewis’ attorney, Dana Kurtz.
NBC 5 went to Country Club Hills City Hall and the main firehouse for a response to the verdict, but city officials, including Fire Chief Roger Agpawa (who is named in the lawsuit), did not immediately respond to a request for comment..
“All I did make the complaint and he removed me,” Lewis said. “And all that evidence is there, that eight to 12 of them are guilty of some pretty evil things… and they’re there and they’re flourishing.”
“That’s up to the Country Club Hills and the citizens to go to the board meeting and demand that they be disciplined, demand that they be fired, demand that they be held accountable,” the attorney said.
Lewis says she hopes her victory inspires others.
“I know we as women are dealing with it and finally voices our voices are being heard and I feel like it’s coming out full force,” she said. “I’m glad and I am proud to be a part of that (the #MeToo movement).”
Another court date is scheduled to take place next week.
