SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — The city of Sparks is settling a gender discrimination lawsuit and will pay $195,000 to a female captain in the fire department.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the severance was approved for Ginny Sievert, who joined the Sparks fire department in 1994 as the first female firefighter.
City officials say they approved the deal to avoid a costly trial, while Sievert's attorney said they were satisfied with the settlement.
Sievert, whose salary and benefits last year totaled about $149,000, sued the city in 2012, claiming gender discrimination and retaliation after a union grievance involving another firefighter.
Christopher Jones successfully argued that Sievert in 2011 was biased when he applied for a promotion.
He won an arbitration award that Sievert said lead to a subsequent negative performance review for her.
