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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Chicago Discriminated Against Policewoman

CHICAGO (CN) - A federal judge ordered the City of Chicago to promote a female police lieutenant to captain with back pay dating back to 2004. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cole found that the city retaliated against Nancy Lipman for her participation in a discrimination lawsuit.

Lipman and two other female officers lost their initial lawsuit but a federal jury found in their favor on retaliation claims they made as a result of the suit. The jury awarded Lipman $250,000. The jury also answered yes to a special interrogatory that stated: "That Plaintiff Nancy Lipman failed to receive a promotion to Captain as a consequence of retaliation by Defendant for her filing of the grievance or EEOC charge."

Lipman then sought an injunction against the City of Chicago ordering it to promote her to captain and to pay her lost wages. A hearing was held in August 2007 where testimonies and depositions from Lipman's co-workers and superiors were submitted. Cole found nothing in the testimony that supported speculation that a court ordered promotion would create hostility or friction in the City of Chicago Police Department. Cole wrote Lipman's "immediate supervisor, Howard Lodding, whose deposition was submitted, testified glowingly about Lieutenant Lipman's exemplary career and personal characteristics. Indeed, Lodding has recently recommended Lieutenant Lipman for promotion to Commander, which is a rank above Captain."

Lipman was supposed to be promoted to captain in August 2004. The city has 14 days to calculate back pay and Lipman must also receive full pension compensation, court papers state.

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