2 lawsuits against fire chief are settled

The city of Minneapolis has reached settlements in two of three lawsuits filed by firefighters against Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek, whom they accused of hindering their careers as part of a personal vendetta.

The City Council voted 10-0 Friday to compensate firefighters Jennifer Cornell and Kathleen Mullen and promote them to battalion chief. Cornell and Mullen had claimed in their lawsuits against the city and Bleskachek that the chief prevented them from being promoted to battalion chief by throwing out the results of a test.

Cornell will receive $65,000 and Mullen $29,000. As part of the settlement, Mullen will be promoted to battalion chief backdated to April 1, and Cornell will be promoted to a similar position within the next 24 months.

Bleskachek's lawyer has said the chief threw out the test results because they were flawed, not because Cornell and Mullen passed while Bleskachek's partner failed, as alleged.

After the council's vote, Mayor R.T. Rybak said the right decision was made reaching a settlement. He would not comment further, citing personnel reasons.

Council Member Gary Schiff said Friday that the settlements seem "very reasonable."

He said internal investigations of Bleskachek, who has been on paid administrative leave since March, are in its final stages. Bleskachek earns nearly $113,000 a year.

No formal council discussion has taken place regarding Bleskachek's status, said Schiff, who added that he believes the investigations should be wrapped up by year's end.

The settlements resolve some of the public allegations against Bleskachek, who has been accused of allowing her romantic relationships to taint her professional duties.

Bleskachek's lawyer, Jerry Burg, said Friday he understood it made sense for the city to reach a settlement because of Cornell's and Mullen's high test scores.

But he reiterated that his client has done nothing wrong. "I would've welcomed the opportunity to put the full facts and story in front of a jury and a judge, and I regret the opportunity not to do so," Burg said.

Burg also said that Bleskachek is relieved the battalion chief testing process "is no longer the focus of ridiculous litigation."

Bleskachek "has put up with an unfair amount of negative press and scrutiny on absolutely no proof of wrongdoing," Burg said.

John Klassen, the attorney for Cornell and Mullen, could not be reached Friday for comment.

In 2004, Rybak appointed Bleskachek as the city's first female fire chief and the only openly gay chief to lead a big-city fire department.

Bleskachek, 43, has been the focus of internal investigations amid the three lawsuits claiming discrimination and sexual harassment. A city investigation found evidence that the department gave preferential treatment to lesbians or those socializing with them.

Cornell and Mullen were the only two firefighters who passed a portion of a test for battalion chief, but officials canceled it after determining part of it was flawed.

The firefighters, however, alleged it was canceled as retaliation.

The first suit filed in March by Cornell, Bleskachek's ex-partner, claims that she finished second on the battalion test and that Bleskachek's decision to toss the scores halted her chances for promotion. Cornell also alleges in the suit that Bleskachek physically abused her.

Mullen, who had the highest score, made similar claims regarding the battalion test and added that Bleskachek's current girlfriend, also a fire captain, failed the test.

In April, a third suit was filed. Kristina Lemon, a fire captain, also accuses the chief of discrimination and harassment. Lemon said in her suit that when Bleskachek was her supervisor, she told Lemon she had "sexual dreams" about her.

After Lemon, a self-described lesbian, rebuffed Bleskachek, she received unwarranted discipline, retaliation and a hostile work environment, the suit alleges. That case is still in litigation, Burg said.

Terry Collins • 612-673-1790 • tcollins@startribune.com