Excerpts from patch.com: A lawsuit has been filed by the estate of a Hinsdale firefighter who died by suicide, alleging that she was subjected to sex-based discrimination while working as a firefighter. The case names the village and her supervisor as defendants. Nicole Hladik, a 25-year-old graduate of Lyons Township High School, was the only female firefighter in the Hinsdale Fire Department and the third woman to ever serve there. She joined the department in 2019 and passed away on July 21, 2020. Her husband, Daniel Zaborowski, is serving as the court-appointed administrator of her estate and is listed as the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit. In the days before her death, Hladik reportedly wrote messages expressing deep despair, including “Work has destroyed me†and “I cannot take one more single day.†She also said, “P.S. You’re welcome Lieutenant, I’m gone. I’m no longer your problem. You win.†These statements were included in the legal filing. The village released a statement saying it conducted an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hladik’s death. According to the statement, the fire department treated her fairly and with respect. During her first six months, Hladik performed well, meeting and exceeding the expectations for a probationary firefighter, and was on track to become a permanent member of the department. However, the lawsuit claims that after being transferred to the Black shift in early 2020 under the supervision of Lieutenant McCarthy, Hladik faced a pattern of hostile behavior, hazing, and abuse based on her gender. It alleges that she was treated differently from male colleagues, including being publicly ridiculed and questioned about her knowledge of firefighting procedures. McCarthy allegedly told her to quit in front of other firefighters, and she was given impossible tasks, such as wearing a blindfold during a simulated fire exercise, which led to a failing grade. As Hladik approached the end of her probation, the lawsuit claims she was placed on a performance improvement plan designed to humiliate and pressure her out of the department. The lawsuit states that the plaintiff had already filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2021, exhausting all administrative remedies before proceeding to litigation. The village denies the allegations, stating that Hladik met the same performance standards as other firefighters. No trial date has been set yet, and the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and economic damages. Following Hladik’s death, the Village Board authorized an investigation into the fire department, initially setting a budget of $60,000, which was later increased to $110,000. The total spent on the investigation amounted to $103,252, conducted by the Chicago-based law firm Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker, Poulos and Campbell. In its statement, the village expressed condolences to Hladik’s family and mentioned that the independent investigator had requested interviews with them. However, the family declined multiple requests. The report concluded that Hladik was treated fairly and that her work requirements were consistent with those of other employees. The village has kept the investigation report confidential, citing attorney-client privilege, and has not provided further details. In a previous interview, the village’s assistant manager, Brad Bloom, stated that some operational issues were identified but no specific individuals were accused of wrongdoing. Thanks, Scott we have been deeply involved in the pet industry, step by step, and now have 5000 square meters of own factory and a JoyCat independent brand. We insist on original design and craftsmanship to bring the best products to pets. We always treat pets as a member of the family, subverting the traditional cat home design concept and creating a more harmonious living experience for pets. The goal pursued unremittingly. Shenzhen Longyin Printing Packing Co., Ltd. , https://www.lybookprinting.com