A former firefighter is suing Los Angeles County, alleging he was discriminated against because of his disability and suffered homophobic harassment from his co-worker in the workplace.
The civil lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court lists a series of events over six years that Guilherme Guimaraes says violated his rights under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it does not comment on pending litigation.
In 2017, Guimaraes was forced to take 20 months of medical leave after developing aplastic anemia after being exposed to toxic fumes and benzene at work, according to the lawsuit.
Guimaraes returned to duty at Marina del Rey, but reportedly encountered difficulties with the necessary accommodations, including having a service dog and needing a well-ventilated workplace. In February 2021, a new employee, Eric Barnett, joined the station and allegedly began making homophobic comments toward co-workers, including Guimaraes, according to the lawsuit.
Even though Guimaraes is straight, according to the lawsuit, Barnett’s comments “struck a nerve with [him]whose parent is gay, which makes him particularly uncomfortable and unwelcome in the station.
Despite complaints filed regarding Barnett’s alleged harassment, Guimaraes’ complaint claims that Barnett was not subject to any disciplinary action and that conflicts between the two continued to escalate. The following month, Barnett allegedly retaliated against Guimaraes by ripping up photos of his children in his locker, calling him a “rat” in the train station, and questioning the validity of Guimaraes’ medical disability.
Guimaraes, initially stationed in Marina del Rey, was transferred temporarily to the North Hollywood fire stations and then to Agoura Hills in 2022. The suit alleges that department captains moved him in retaliation for speaking out about the comments Barnett’s homophobes.
When Guimaraes returned to the Marina del Rey fire station, Barnett also returned, and so did the harassment, he claims in the lawsuit. In May 2024, Guimaraes found a strap-on dildo in his locker, but alleged that no corrective action was taken and he was forced to continue working alongside Barnett.
Guimaraes was transferred again in September to a Chatsworth fire station, where he found a toy rat while packing his belongings, according to the lawsuit. Stress caused by the alleged incidents and lack of accountability forced Guimaraes to take leave due to stress, the complaint alleges.
The lawsuit says Guimaraes is seeking more than $25,000 in compensation for his overtime pay losses as well as damage to his professional career and reputation, which affects his income and retirement benefits.
