Central Fire District pays nearly $1 million in settlement with firefighters – Santa Cruz Sentinel

LIVE OAK — The Santa Cruz County Central Fire District recently settled a nearly $1 million hostile work environment lawsuit alleging whistleblower retaliation and workplace assault.

The resolution of the lawsuit, initially filed last year by former Central Fire firefighter and union leader Michael Botill Jr., avoids an ongoing civil trial expected to begin this month. According to the settlement agreement between Botill, a third-generation firefighter, and the district, each party admitted “no fault.” The resolution involves a payment of $965,000 to Botill.

In an email responding to a Sentinel inquiry, Botill wrote that he believed the settlement “reflects the seriousness of what happened.” He said he hoped to shed light on what happened so that “others don’t have to endure similar experiences.” The result, Botill said, does not undo the harm he suffered, but provides a solution that will allow him to begin rebuilding his life.

Botill’s suit, filed in July 2023, alleged that fellow firefighters Capt. Dan Jordan and Forrest Gleitsman committed harassment, discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and intimidation.

“This lawsuit was intended to hold those responsible accountable for their actions, which ultimately ended my career and seriously affected my life,” wrote Botill, 32, who was hired by the district in 2016. “Despite the settlement, the individuals involved in the incident are still employed by the firefighters.

Under the settlement agreement, initially approved in late August and finalized this month, the fire district is responsible for supporting Botill’s industrial disability retirement application. Nearly $139,000 of the settlement will cover Botill’s lost wages. More than $410,000 will cover Botill’s combined legal fees and the direct payment to Botill will be approximately $416,000, according to the settlement.

Jordan’s initial assault on Botill, according to Botill’s complaint, occurred at a professional event in October 2020 when Jordan, who was allegedly drinking, approached Botill and slapped him in the face. At the same event a year later, Jordan allegedly verbally threatened Botill, according to the complaint. During a meeting in 2022 after the same professional event, Botill’s complaint alleges that Jordan and Gleitsman confronted him. Jordan allegedly criticized Botill for opposing a district working conditions policy, for filing a previous complaint against Jordan and for the district’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements. The confrontation would have quickly turned violent, the two men would have hit Botill in front of a restaurant.

Botill’s suit also claimed that district leaders, including Fire Chief Jason Nee, failed to properly respond to complaints of violence.