A Fire Fighter's Claims In Federal Court
Opening arguments and witness testimony started in U.S. District Court for the trial of Erie's first female fire fighter. She's claiming the city violated the Americans With Disabilities Act when they fired her.
A trial and jury will determine the question if Mary Wolski was wrongfully fired.
Her attorney says back in 2006 she was depressed after the death of her mother. Wolski took a large amount of pills and set fire to her father's clothes in a bathtub in a suicide attempt.
Several months later the city sent her a letter terminating her employment.
Her attorney argues the city has violated the ADA and never gave her a chance to explain.
However...the city's attorney says it's all about the elephant in the room...
"Their own fire fighter set a fire...she put other fire fighters in danger...she wasn't suited to be a fire fighter because she did something wrong...not because of a disability," attorney Gerald Villella said.
A trial and jury will determine the question if Mary Wolski was wrongfully fired.
Her attorney says back in 2006 she was depressed after the death of her mother. Wolski took a large amount of pills and set fire to her father's clothes in a bathtub in a suicide attempt.
Several months later the city sent her a letter terminating her employment.
Her attorney argues the city has violated the ADA and never gave her a chance to explain.
However...the city's attorney says it's all about the elephant in the room...
"Their own fire fighter set a fire...she put other fire fighters in danger...she wasn't suited to be a fire fighter because she did something wrong...not because of a disability," attorney Gerald Villella said.
