Fire Dept. racial bias lawsuit is rejected

A civil court jury on Tuesday rejected the allegation of a black firefighter who said he was harassed and discriminated against because of his race during his two-decade career with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The verdict in the case of Jabari Jumaane comes as city leaders and fire officials struggle to cope with long-standing complaints about racial bias, harassment and retaliation in the department.

Last year, the city agreed to pay $2.7 million to Tennie Pierce, a black firefighter who sued for discrimination after colleagues secretly put dog food in his spaghetti dinner during a firehouse meal.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vetoed the settlement, but the controversy prompted then-Fire Chief William Bamattre to step down.

Pierce’s lawsuit is still awaiting trial.

Earlier this month, a jury awarded $3.75 million to a veteran Fire Department captain who contended he was retaliated against for not making training exercises easier for women.

Jumaane sued the department four years ago, alleging that he was subjected to racial slurs, jokes and other abuse. When he complained, Jumaane said, his superiors responded by filing trumped-up misconduct charges against him.

Lawyers for the city argued that Jumaane’s disciplinary record was warranted and that his allegations of racial harassment and discrimination were fabricated “solely to hide his own wrongful conduct.”

The jury, after deliberating for 6 1/2 hours over two days, voted 9 to 3 to reject Jumaane’s allegation.

Deputy City Atty. Jorge M. Otano said jurors concluded that the discipline Jumaane received was unrelated to his race.

“They didn’t perceive a cause and effect,” Otano said. “It’s a good day for the city.”

Jumaane’s attorney, Nana Gyamfi, said she was disappointed with the verdict.

“People brought their preconceived notions and biases to the table,” she said. “I think it’s a reflection of the way we continue to look at race in this country.”

Jumaane, 46, joined the department in 1986. Although he was subjected to racial harassment soon after he began the job, his lawyer said, his disciplinary problems did not begin until 13 years later.

In 1999, while working as a fire inspector, Jumaane was suspended for 10 days for failure to report to work, failure to document inspection activities and insubordination, records show. In 2001, he again was suspended, this time, according to the city, for failing to properly garage his Fire Department car at his home.

At trial, Gyamfi argued that in both instances her client had been retaliated against for speaking out about racism and discrimination in the department.

Otano, the city attorney, said there has been a rash of such allegations since the proposed settlement in the case of Pierce dog food case.

scott.glover@latimes.com