Harassment Alleged At Elmhurst Fire Department
ELMHURST, IL – A former paramedic who received a $48,000 settlement from Elmhurst last month alleged she was the victim of sexual harassment.
Her attorney said the paramedic was shoved at one point and that a firefighter told her that "we should get rid of all of the females" in the fire station.
The city said it is investigating.
In the settlement, Shterna Blumberger was described as an employee of Superior Ambulance working as a paramedic for the city. She worked there for 14 months, leaving on July 17, 2024.
A month after Blumberger's departure, her attorney, Kelly Cowlin, informed the city in a letter of her client's allegations of harassment. The lawyer said her client demanded $50,000.
After Blumberger started, a false rumor went around the fire department that she suffered from autism, which led to others mocking and ridiculing her for her perceived condition, her lawyer said.
Blumberger's manager once told her to tell everyone to "shut up before we have the (Americans With Disabilities Act) in here," Cowlin said.
Because of the rumors, the letter said, firefighters would talk over her on calls and ignore her directions, even when she was the lead paramedic.
The harassment and discrimination became so severe that she requested to switch shifts, which was granted, her lawyer said.
Employees on the new shift were kinder, but she was still looked down upon because of the rumors of her perceived disability, Cowlin said. And she had to work with those on her old shift from time to time.
Cowlin also alleged her client endured sexually inappropriate comments and gender discrimination. She was told by a firefighter to "shut up, we aren't talking to you," her lawyer said.
One male firefighter told her, in front of her battalion chief and the entire crew working that day, that "we should get rid of all of the females so we can have more space at the station," the letter said.
The firefighters often made sexual comments in front of Blumberger, making her extremely uncomfortable, her attorney said.
"My client's lieutenant said that he would go to gas stations to stare at women since they can't leave and he can get a good look," Cowlin wrote. "Further, employees of Elmhurst F.D. would look up pictures of female patients and their family members if they thought they were 'hot.'"
Elmhurst was aware of its employees' conduct, with much of it witnessed by management-level employees, but the city did nothing about it, Cowlin said.
As a result of the harassment, Blumberger gave her notice to resign. But she left before her notice period ended because a firefighter "purposefully" shoved her while she was caring for a patient.
Blumberger told the fire department she was leaving immediately because she was concerned for her safety and license, her attorney said.
Blumberger lost wages after she left, but has since gotten a job at a hospital, making the same hourly wage that she received at the fire department, Cowlin said. But Blumberger is limited to only 36 hours a week, which is less than half the hours that she got in Elmhurst, her attorney said.
"My client is terrified to work at another Fire Department, is extremely anxious about starting a new job, and had to accept employment in a position which does not allow her to utilize her paramedic training," Cowlin said.
The attorney gave the city until Aug. 30 to accept her client's $50,000 demand, although the lawyer estimated the damages at $62,633.
On Oct. 21, the City Council approved the $48,000 settlement .
Patch obtained the documents through a public records request Tuesday. A minute after getting the records, the city issued a statement about the situation to Patch. It said it was limited in what it could say because of the settlement's confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions.
The city said the allegations are being "thoroughly" investigated. It said it did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement and that it was only avoiding the expense of litigation.
"The City of Elmhurst takes all allegations of harassment and discrimination very seriously and has zero tolerance for such behavior within our organization," the city said.
The city holds mandatory annual training for all employees to prevent discrimination and harassment, according to the statement. Supervisors are trained to report any type of discrimination or harassment brought to their attention and are held accountable for neglecting to do so, the city said.
Patch left messages with Blumberger's attorney and Superior Ambulance.
A few years ago, the Hinsdale Fire Department was also accused of bias against a female firefighter.
She took her own life in 2021. After that, her family sued the village , claiming that she was the victim of discrimination. The family later dropped the lawsuit .
The Village Board spent more than $100,000 on an investigation into the situation. It refused to release the investigation's report to the public. Even the village's trustees had not seen it , the village president said in 2022.
