12/04/2008
Staten Island Firefighter Wins $3.75M in Anti-Gay Abuse Settlement
The city of Annandale in New York City's Staten Island borough awarded $3.75 million yesterday to Robert Walsh, a former firefighter, as settlement for an assault with a metal chair by fellow firefighter Michael Silvestri after what Walsh described as two years of ongoing anti-gay harassment:
"Walsh, 45, formerly of Annadale, sued the city and former firefighter Michael Silvestri for $100 million over 'permanent injuries' he says he suffered when Silvestri smashed a metal chair in the side of Walsh's head at Tottenville's Engine Co. 151/Ladder Co. 76 firehouse on Dec. 31, 2003. Attorneys had been scheduled to begin summations tomorrow morning following the two-week-long civil trial in which a jury listened to doctors and witnesses testify through videotaped depositions. Walsh took the stand last week and told jurors the attack followed nearly two years of Silvestri hurling anti-gay slurs that were ignored or laughed off by firehouse supervisors."
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Posted 10:34 AM EST by Andy in Crime, Firefighters, New York, News | Permalink
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awesome!
Posted by: DanB | Dec 4, 2008 10:42:19 AM
Finally, a gay-related fireman lawsuit that isn't frivolous and/or ludicrous. This guy actually DESERVES money.
Speaking of which, what happened to that OTHER lawsuit?
Posted by: Philip Wester | Dec 4, 2008 10:51:17 AM
Finally some justice for a bunch of bigots! Yes, this guy fully deserves the money he was awarded. Too bad Mr. Silvestri didn't have to do any jail time!
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 4, 2008 11:15:23 AM
How long now before the usual suspects show up here to bash and trash the victim while defending defending the poor perp.
We never get one of these stories where at least one doesn't show up.
Posted by: Joe | Dec 4, 2008 11:44:18 AM
Slight correction: Annadale is a neighborhood in Staten Island. It is not a city.
Posted by: Jon Graf | Dec 4, 2008 12:18:57 PM
No surprise with the bigotry - dated a real piece of white trash from Annadale (is that redundant?). According to him, everyone in Staten Island is bigoted and proud of it. Personally, I think he got "bigoted" confused with "ignorant white trash."
Glad this guy won - maybe it will make a difference in their behavior.
Posted by: Shane | Dec 4, 2008 1:44:51 PM