Lesbian ex-firefighter wins harassment suit in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- A former Rhode Island firefighter who said she suffered years of sexual harassment and gender discrimination by her colleagues has been awarded more than $800,000.

Retired Providence fire Lt. Lori Franchina sued in federal court in 2012, accusing her male colleagues of harassing and discriminating against her because she is a woman and a lesbian. A jury handed up the award Monday after a nearly two-week trial.

Franchina alleges she developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder because of the constant mistreatment. She says her superiors also failed to stop it.

"It had an effect almost every day," Franchina told tells CBS affiliate WPRI-TV. "It breaks you. It wears you down. You still try to come to work every day and do your job well."

The city had said Franchina was known to be difficult to get along with and said she failed to lodge a complaint with its Equal Employment Opportunity officer.

City spokeswoman Emily Crowell said city plans to appeal.