Portland council approves $75,000 settlement in firefighter discrimination suit

Portland City Council voted to approve an emergency ordinance to settle an employment discrimination lawsuit brought in 2024 by a retired Portland Fire & Rescue employee for $75,000.

Anne Milligan, senior deputy city attorney, told council the plaintiff joined Portland Fire & Rescue in 2005, moved to the fire marshal's office in 2014 and retired in 2025. The complaint filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court sought roughly $3.25 million, alleging race discrimination and a hostile work environment. Milligan said the plaintiff had never been disciplined, but the city recommended settling to avoid the risks and expense of a trial.

Councilor Knoell sought brief factual clarification about whether the employee inspected the zone where a named apartment complex was located; Milligan confirmed the inspector had responsibility for that zone. No public testimony opposed the settlement.

Because the ordinance was filed as an emergency measure it required a supermajority. The clerk recorded 10 ayes, one nay (Zimmerman) and one absent; the president announced the ordinance passed.

The settlement resolves the citys exposure in the pending Multnomah County Circuit Court case without trial. Council did not specify additional follow-up actions in the public record during the vote.

The council did not attach further administrative conditions to the payment; the city attorney indicated the recommendation came from risk management and the city attorney's office.