Suing Firefighter Tells of ‘Intimidation’ by Women

An Oxnard firefighter, suing that city for more than $1 million, told a Los Angeles federal court jury Wednesday that sharing the same firehouse facilities with women firefighters caused him to feel “intimidated . . . agitated . . . sexually aroused.”

David Leaf, 34, argued that the Oxnard Fire Department should have provided separate living quarters for its two female firefighters. He alleged that city officials intimidated him because of his campaign, threatened him with dismissal and thus violated his constitutional rights.

Oxnard Assistant City Atty. Dave Larsen said the city treated Leaf fairly and denied that he had been harassed. Leaf’s underlying problem, he told jurors, was “his unstable relationship with Mrs. Leaf. . . . She feared he might have extramarital affairs.”