A former firefighter filed the lawsuit against Polk County in U.S. court for Florida’s Middle District in Tampa on March 28, court records show. A judge has scheduled a three-day jury trial for Nov. 2.
Dustin Willis is claiming the county discriminated against the firefighter because of gender identity after a job offer to return to the department was withdrawn.
What the lawsuit alleges
- The firefighter says Polk County Fire Rescue initially offered them a job.
- According to the lawsuit, the county later rescinded (took back) that job offer.
- The plaintiff claims the decision was based on their gender identity as a transgender person, which they argue violates federal civil-rights protections.
Legal claims
The civil lawsuit reportedly alleges violations such as:
- Employment discrimination based on sex/gender identity
- Violation of federal civil-rights law (generally tied to Title VII protections)
The firefighter is seeking remedies that may include:
- Being rehired
- Compensation for lost wages
- Other damages related to discrimination
Status of the case
- The lawsuit has been filed in federal court but is still in early stages.
- Polk County officials have not publicly responded in detail yet because the case is pending litigation.
If you want, I can also explain:
- Who the firefighter is and their background, or
- Why gender-identity discrimination cases often rely on a 2020 Supreme Court ruling.
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