A jury awarded Lori Franchina $545,000 for future lost wages, $161,000 for emotional damages and $100,000 for punitive damages in a case in which she alleged gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Providence Fire Department lieutenant won a $806,000 award against the city and one or more other defendants in U.S. District Court on Monday.

A jury awarded Lori Franchina $545,000 for lost wages, $161,000 for emotional damages and $100,000 for punitive damages in a lawsuit in which she alleged gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

Franchina had accused her male colleagues of harassing, disrespecting and discriminating against her based on her gender and sexual orientation and complained that the city failed to deter the misconduct. Her orientation as a lesbian emerged in testimony and was cited as a factor by the plaintiff.

The unrelenting mistreatment caused her to suffer severe post-traumatic stress syndrome, the jury was told. Her lawyer, John T. Martin, said that she suffers from depression, has lost personal relationships and undergoes daily therapy as a result.

Among the insults cited were crude name-calling, curses, tampering with her food, withholding help from her during responses to medical emergencies, and undermining her authority as a supervisor. Firefighter Andre Ferro allegedly asked her, “Are you a lesbian, or are you just doing everybody?”

The department fired Ferro in 2006 after a hearing in which it was determined that he had harassed Franchina. But, on appeal, he was reinstated to his job.

Franchina joined the department in 2002 but has been out of work since 2012 on injured-on-duty status — paid sick leave.

During the trial, the city argued that Franchina’s abrasiveness and arrogance made her impossible to work with.

Kevin F. McHugh, senior assistant city solicitor, established during the trial that in response to Franchina’s complaints of mistreatment to her superior officers, the city urged department members to work as a team and ensured that a bothersome colleague was not assigned to the fire house where she worked.

The trial began April 6 in the courtroom of Judge John J. McConnell Jr. and went to the jury Friday.

Martin, Franchina’s lawyer, did not return a telephone call seeking comment on the verdict.

Emily Crowell, spokeswoman for Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, said the city intends to appeal the verdict but that McHugh was not available to answer questions about the case. If the award stands, the city does not have an insurance policy to cover the loss.

— gsmith@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7334

— With reports from Katie Mulvaney, Journal staff writer

Correction: The jury award was incorrect in an earlier version of this report. Lt. Lori Franchina was awarded a total of $806,000: $545,000 for future lost wages, $161,000 for emotional damages and $100,000 for punitive damages.