Lawsuit alleges sex discrimination and retaliation at Ross/West View EMS

A Ross/West View paramedic contends in a federal lawsuit that she has been subject to repeated instances of sexual harassment spanning almost three decades by colleagues and supervisors there, including a supervisor exposing himself to her, and being touched inappropriately.

In addition, Jenifer A. Swab, 57, said that she is not treated equally to her male colleagues, including relative to pay and benefits.

The lawsuit, which names only Ross/West View EMS as the defendant, includes claims for sex discrimination, equal protection, battery and retaliation.

“The discrimination plaintiff faced and continues to face on the basis of her gender has been pervasive, constant and without surcease for a period of time lasting almost three decades,” the lawsuit said.

Ross Township manager Ron Borczyk said on Tuesday he had not yet received the lawsuit and could not comment.

A message left with the director of the ambulance service was not immediately returned.

Swab is the only woman employed in a leadership role and currently serves as the training coordinator, according to the complaint.

She alleges that the “extreme and perverse gender discrimination” dates back to the 1990s, and that she had reported it multiple times.

The response, the lawsuit said, is that Swab is told to “grow thicker skin,” and to let them “roll off her back.”

The repeated complaints, the lawsuit continued, have led to her being ostracized and threatened by her co-workers, including having nails placed in her tires and a mannequin hand with an opened box cutter in it being left in her locker.

In 2018, a part-time paramedic said to her, “‘Jenny, you are letting your hair grow.’”

He responded “‘good for the pull,” and grabbed the back of her head and pulled it toward him, the lawsuit said.

Swab also alleges that a member of the service’s board of directors sent an inappropriate text message to her in March 2019 about a woman having an orgasm.

In August 2018, a newly hired employee kicked Swab in the buttocks on multiple occasions — and kneed her once there, as well — making her uncomfortable.

Swab later complained in May 2019 that the same man had brought sex toys to work, showed them to a female colleague and engaged in lewd conversation.

In May 2019, the lawsuit alleged, a supervisor at the service asked Swab to meet him at a nearby park to discuss a relationship issue.

During the conversation, the complaint said, the man held his phone out openly for several minutes. It had a picture of a naked woman’s buttocks on it.

“Plaintiff became uncomfortable and left as soon as she had an excuse to do so,” the lawsuit said.

A week later, the same supervisor exposed himself to Swab, according to the suit.

“Plaintiff’s mental health has deteriorated as a result of the continual sex discrimination and retaliation she faces within her work place. She requires regular mental therapy for the same,” the lawsuit said.

Swab also alleges that because of her complaints, she has been subject to retaliation.

For instance, the lawsuit said, an assistant director organized a dinner in 2016 for the department and invited everyone except for Swab.

The lawsuit also alleges that the ambulance service pays for the cellphone of other employees in similar positions but not Swab; that it failed to provide her with a company credit card and did not reimburse her fully when her laptop was broken at a CPR class.

In addition, Swab alleges that male colleagues are paid at a rate higher than her commensurate to experience and seniority.