Federal Jury Awards $189,000 to 2 Florida Firefighters

A federal jury has awarded $189,000 to two Tampa Bay area firefighters in a workplace retaliation case.

The Tampa Bay Times reports most of Monday’s verdict was assessed against the International Association of Firefighters Local 4420. The union published a legal memo in April 2008 naming the two firefighters and calling their claims frivolous.

The newspaper reports the claims against Pasco County, Fla., resulted from an August 2011 order that required Anthony Booth and Jerry Brown to undergo psychological tests to keep their jobs.

The firefighters brought their initial claim in 2007, saying they had become “social pariahs” within the department.

U.S District Judge James Moody dismissed discrimination charges.

The Times reports the county and the union have asked the judge to set aside the verdict.