The Township of Union agreed to pay $355,000 to settle a police officer's lawsuit that claimed she was denied lifetime health benefits upon retirement because of her gender.
Earlier this month, a federal jury, determined that the department, in fact, discriminated against MaryAnne Cosimano when she was allegedly denied lifetime health benefits because she was a year short of the 25-year requirement. The awarded judgment is intended to cover the past and future health expenses.
Township officials, however, are reportedly considering an appeal since verdict conflicts with the contractual requirements for lifetime health insurance.
Cosimano started with the department back in 1986 as a dispatcher then became a patrol officer and was ultimately promoted to detective in 2000.
However, in 2010, she was reassigned from detective bureau to the patrol division after she missed time due to a finger injury, which allegedly prevented her from fulfilling the duties of a full-time detective.
Following the transfer (a $3,000 pay cut), Cosimano filed a grievance which according to her led to the denial of lifetime health benefits because of her gender and as retaliation.