A federal judge has ordered Denver to pay $1.2 million to a veteran firefighter wrongfully dismissed in a case of age discrimination and firehouse malice.
The amount granted by U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn ranks among the largest payouts the city has faced.
Yet Denver firefighter Bill Cadorna, 54 – fired after a boss falsely accused him of shoplifting a cookbook and then not rehired – still was devastated Tuesday even as he learned of the award.
“They can give me the money, but what I would like to have is the last four years of my life back more than anything,” Cadorna said.
A formal apology would help, he added.
Denver officials instead were weighing an appeal.
Earlier this year, city attorneys rejected an offer to settle the case for a fraction of the $1.2 million.
“Anytime judgments are entered against the city or other government entities for discrimination, it’s a concern for us, and I’m sure it’s a concern for citizens,” Deputy City Attorney Chris Mootz said.
The federal court ruling this week says Denver also must pay legal fees, estimated at more than $200,000.
Blackburn ruled “there certainly was sufficient evidence” presented at a jury trial in June supporting the verdict that city officials willfully violated federal age discrimination laws in firing Cadorna and then refusing to give retirement benefits. And Cadorna is entitled to his job back if he wants.
Mark Brennan, Cadorna’s attorney, said city officials now appear poised to delay payment. “Neither my client nor I are going to roll over for anything less than the full judgment,” Brennan said.
Denver public servants deserve better treatment, he said. “You’ve got a (fire department) command structure that is badly in need of a purge. Unless and until that happens, nothing’s really going to change.”
A few previous court judgments involving Denver police have topped $1 million. City officials said $1.2 million is the most levied against the fire department.
A Vietnam War veteran of Filipino descent and father of two, Cadorna served as a firefighter for 26 years, including work on an elite dive team. He also did the cooking at his firehouse in Montbello.
Touble hit in 2002 after he bought a cookbook at a Safeway nearby. He paid, then set it down in the store and couldn’t find it again, court records show. A clerk told him to grab another one, which he did shortly before he and fellow firefighters raced out on a call.
Supervisors then began questioning Cadorna about where he got the cookbook. A fellow firefighter had filed a complaint to police. He was fired in January 2003 pending an investigation.
This left him “devastated, completely demoralized,” he said. “I didn’t tell my family for two months….I was humiliated. I was ‘Bill, the fireman.’ That was my identity. I was proud of being a Denver fireman, proud of wearing a blue uniform, proud of what I did.”
Now he’s uncertain about returning to work. Court testimonty revealed superiors motivated against him. “Those guys that did that to me, they’re still there.”
The money will help family finances with two kids in college.
But “I wasn’t after the money. I was after what I lost,” he said.
“I haven’t had an apology from anyone.”
Contact Bruce Finley at 303-954-1700 or bfinley@denverpost.com.
