Excerpts from patch.com: A tragic story has emerged from Hinsdale, where the estate of a local firefighter who took her own life is now suing the village and her supervisor, claiming she was subjected to sex-based discrimination. Nicole Hladik, a 25-year-old graduate of Lyons Township High School, was the only female firefighter in the department’s history. She joined the fire department in 2019 and was on track to become a permanent firefighter after successfully completing her probation. Her husband, Daniel Zaborowski, who serves as the court-appointed administrator of her estate, is the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit. In the days before her death on July 21, 2020, Hladik reportedly wrote messages that revealed her deep emotional distress. One message read, “Work has destroyed me,†while another said, “I cannot take one more single day.†In a postscript, she wrote, “You’re welcome Lieutenant, I’m gone. I’m no longer your problem. You win.†These words have since become central to the legal battle over her treatment at work. The village of Hinsdale conducted its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death, stating that the fire department treated her fairly and with respect. According to the lawsuit, during her first six months, Hladik met and exceeded all expectations for a probationary firefighter. However, her situation changed when she was moved to the Black shift in early 2020, where she was placed under the supervision of Lieutenant McCarthy. The lawsuit claims that McCarthy and the department engaged in a pattern of behavior aimed at breaking Hladik and forcing her to resign because of her gender. It alleges that she faced constant hostility, hazing, and abuse that amounted to sexual discrimination. For example, she was made to wear a blindfold during a simulated fire drill and was given a failing score despite the task being nearly impossible. McCarthy also allegedly publicly ridiculed her, questioned her competence, and told her to quit in front of male firefighters. As Hladik neared the end of her probation, she was placed on a performance improvement plan that the lawsuit claims was designed to humiliate and discourage her from staying. The family asserts that she was treated unfairly compared to her male colleagues, who were not subjected to the same pressures or scrutiny. Hladik's estate filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2021, exhausting all administrative remedies before pursuing legal action. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and economic damages, though no trial date has been set yet. Following Hladik’s death, the Village Board authorized an investigation into the fire department, initially allocating $60,000 and later increasing it to $110,000. The final cost of the investigation came to $103,252, conducted by the Chicago-based law firm Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker, Poulos and Campbell. In a statement, the village expressed condolences to Hladik’s family and emphasized that the investigation found no evidence of unfair treatment. They claimed that her performance requirements were the same as those for other firefighters and that her work environment met the village’s high standards. However, they declined to release the full report, citing attorney-client privilege. Despite the village’s stance, the lawsuit continues, with the family seeking justice for what they believe was a case of systemic discrimination. The case highlights ongoing challenges for women in male-dominated professions and raises important questions about workplace culture and accountability. Thanks Scott PINGYUAN FILTER CO.,LTD , https://www.pingyuanfilters.com