Judge Denies Claims Filed By Former EG Fire Tax Clerk

A District Court judge has dismissed breach of contract and sex discrimination claims filed against the town of East Greenwich by the former chief tax clerk for East Greenwich Fire District who was let go when the town consolidated its fire districts into a single town department.

Kristen Henrikson had been employed by the town for about 12 years and was a member of the Local 3328, International Association of Firefighters, the local fire union.

She alleged that she was denied a fair opportunity to transfer into the job of firefighter and should have been able to transfer into the job as an existing employee. The town and the union contended that she needed to meet additional firefighter-specific test-based qualifications to be a firefighter, which she did not.

As a result of not meeting those specific qualifications, the union did not include her on a list of eligible employees that the town used to pick applicants.

You can read the entire ruling here: http://www.rid.uscourts.gov/menu/judges/opinions/recent/03232015_11CV0381M_HENRIKSON_v_TOWN_OF_EAST_GREENWICH_P.pdf