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Hinsdale Fire Department news (more)
Excerpts from patch.com:
A lawsuit has been filed by the estate of Nicole Hladik, a 25-year-old firefighter from Hinsdale who died by suicide in July 2020. The case alleges that she faced sex-based discrimination during her time with the fire department. Hladik, a graduate of Lyons Township High School, was the only female firefighter in the department and the third woman to ever serve there. Her husband, Daniel Zaborowski, is acting as the court-appointed administrator of her estate and is the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit.
According to the filing, Hladik expressed deep distress before her death, writing, “Work has destroyed me†and “I cannot take one more single day.†She also added, “P.S. You’re welcome Lieutenant, I’m gone. I’m no longer your problem. You win.†These statements are cited in the lawsuit as evidence of the emotional toll she endured.
The village of Hinsdale responded to the allegations by stating it conducted an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hladik’s death. They claimed she was treated fairly and respectfully throughout her time with the department. During her first six months, she was assigned to the Gold shift and met or exceeded all expectations for a probationary firefighter, according to the lawsuit. She was on track to become a permanent member of the department.
However, the lawsuit claims that in early 2020, when Hladik was moved to the Black shift under the supervision of Lieutenant McCarthy, she was subjected to a pattern of behavior aimed at forcing her out due to her gender. The suit alleges she faced constant hostility, hazing, and abuse, including public humiliation and questioning of her competence. McCarthy reportedly ridiculed her during verbal confrontations and told her to quit in front of male colleagues.
One particularly troubling incident involved Hladik being required to operate a firehose while blindfolded during a simulation. She received a failing score and was told she should quit, despite the task being nearly impossible. As she neared the end of her probation, she was placed on a performance improvement plan designed to embarrass and discourage her from staying with the department.
The lawsuit states that Hladik had already exhausted her administrative remedies through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by filing a complaint in 2021. While the village denies these claims, the case is still ongoing, and no trial date has been set. The plaintiff is seeking both compensatory and economic damages.
Following Hladik’s death, the Village Board authorized $60,000 for an independent investigation into the fire department, which was later increased to $110,000. The final cost came to $103,252, with the investigation carried out by the Chicago-based law firm Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker, Poulos and Campbell.
In a statement released Tuesday, the village expressed its condolences to Hladik’s family and confirmed it had hired an independent investigator to look into the events leading up to her death. The investigation included interviews with staff and a review of records. However, the family declined multiple requests for interviews, citing their grief and unwillingness to participate.
The village’s statement emphasized that the investigation found no evidence of unfair treatment and that Hladik’s performance standards were the same as those for other firefighters. It also said it would "unequivocally refute any allegations to the contrary" and would defend itself vigorously in court.
Despite the findings, the village has kept the investigation report confidential, citing attorney-client privilege in response to a public records request. Officials have remained largely silent on the matter, with some expressing that no specific individuals were targeted and that no integrity issues were found.
Thanks, Scott.