Los Alamos Bathroom Cam Case Settled for $850k

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Posted by: Curt Varone 13 mins ago 0

The sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a female firefighter who was the target of an infamous bathroom cam stunt back in 2010 has been settled for $850,000.

Jessie Noah was the target of a video camera hidden in the towel dispenser in the women’s bathroom in a Los Alamos County fire station in October, 2010. It was reportedly placed there by Fire Captain Aaron Adair. Adair was charged criminally with voyeurism and tampering with evidence for destroying the camera’s memory card. He resigned from the department and received probation on a plea bargain.

Noah’s lawsuit alleged that once the matter was reported, she was severely retaliated against by other firefighters. She claims the already sexually hostile work environment became unbearable forcing he to resigned in 2011. Noah’s suit alleged that ongoing harassment and retaliation left her no option but to quit under the legal theory known as “constructive termination.”

The $850,000 settlement was funded in part by the county and in part by the New Mexico Self-Insurer’s Fund. It reportedly was settled earlier in the year, but the settlement escaped media notice until today when the Los Alamos Monitor broke the news.

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ABOUT CURT VARONE

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.