PHILADELPHIA - A female lieutenant with the Philadelphia Fire Department has filed a federal lawsuit that says she was treated differently than male counterparts.
A lawsuit was filed March 8 in Philadelphia against the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and Captain Julian Sellers by Kwaja Matthews, a female Lieutenant in the Fire Code Unit.
The case, brought forward by attorney Timothy J. Prol from Derek Smith Law Group, alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), and the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance (PFPO).
The complaint alleges instances of discriminatory comments and conduct by Captain Sellers towards Matthews. Allegedly Sellers threatened to replace Matthews due to her age and accused her of not caring about the Fire Code Unit or its members.
Matthews has been employed with the department since 2000. She claims male colleagues were given more favorable treatment.