Jury Rejects Firefighter’s Harassment Lawsuit in Miami-Dade
Table of Contents
Case Overview
Treena Wright served as a Firefighter Paramedic with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue since 2005. She worked in a male-dominated field and was one of only two women in Battalion 14. In 2021, Chief Daniel Bolline took charge of her battalion. Years before, in 2009, he had shown her an explicit image, which she found offensive and unprofessional. She didn’t report it at the time out of fear. When he returned in a leadership role, she chose to remain cautious and silent, hoping he had changed.
Escalation and Reporting
Bolline’s conduct soon became inappropriate again. He made lewd jokes and sent sexually suggestive memes. On February 5, 2022, he forcibly hugged Wright and grabbed her buttocks. On Valentine’s Day, he entered her dorm and gave her a candle. Wright reported the incidents. Miami-Dade responded by transferring Bolline. However, retaliation followed. Lieutenant Angelica Kenyon, believed to be close to Bolline, began targeting Wright. She was assigned degrading tasks, isolated, and publicly undermined. Miami-Dade later reassigned Bolline to her unit despite her protests, causing renewed distress.
Personal and Professional Impact
Wright experienced serious emotional strain. Her stress levels triggered heart palpitations and hospitalization. She reported feelings of humiliation, anxiety, and helplessness. She developed sleep issues and a loss of self-esteem. The harassment deeply affected her ability to work and maintain stability in her professional life.
Seeking Redress for Harm
Wright sought compensation for emotional distress, loss of dignity, and reputational damage. She also claimed financial losses, including medical bills and reduced earning capacity. She requested punitive damages for the intentional nature of the misconduct. Her legal action aimed to address both personal and professional injury.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Treena Wright
Counsel for Plaintiff: Reid Levin | A. Andrew Obeidy
Defendants: Miami-Dade County, Daniel Bolline, Angelica Kenyon
Counsel for Defendants: Leona Nicole McFarlane | Rochelle A. Hall
Legal Grounds for the Lawsuit
Battery: Against Chief Bolline for groping Wright.
Sex Discrimination: Against Miami-Dade for unequal treatment and a hostile work environment.
Retaliation: Against Miami-Dade for punitive actions after Wright’s complaint.
Negligent Supervision: Against Miami-Dade for failing to prevent Bolline’s misconduct.
Negligent Retention: Against Miami-Dade for continuing to employ Bolline despite known risks.
Whistleblower Retaliation: Against Miami-Dade under Florida’s Public Whistleblower Act.
Interference with Employment: Against Kenyon for deliberately undermining Wright’s job stability.
Defamation: Against Kenyon for spreading false, harmful claims about Wright’s performance and character.
Wright asked the court for damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief deemed appropriate.
Defense
Angelica Kenyon’s Defense
Defendant Angelica Kenyon denied all material allegations in Plaintiff Treena Wright’s complaint. She admitted basic employment details but rejected claims of harassment, retaliation, and defamation. She specifically denied any wrongdoing, personal targeting, or acting outside the scope of her job.
Kenyon raised several affirmative defenses. She stated that Wright’s employment was at-will and not protected by contract. She argued that her actions were lawful and tied to legitimate work reasons. She claimed immunity for defamation, asserting any statements were made within her job role. Kenyon also contended that Wright failed to mitigate damages and that the complaint lacked legal basis for certain damages.
Miami-Dade County and Daniel Bolline’s Defense
Miami-Dade County and Chief Daniel Bolline denied all key allegations. They admitted only basic facts such as employment history and the existence of internal investigations. They denied any misconduct, retaliation, discrimination, or failure in supervision or hiring practices. They also disputed that Wright exhausted required administrative remedies before filing suit.
Their affirmative defenses included several procedural and substantive bars. They asserted that Wright failed to follow internal grievance procedures and administrative channels. They argued that she bypassed protections under the County’s anti-discrimination policies. They cited sovereign immunity for negligence claims. They also argued that any actions taken were for legitimate reasons, and any potential damages were either unsupported or reduced by Plaintiff’s own conduct.
All three Defendants requested dismissal with prejudice and recovery of legal costs.
Jury Verdict
On April 25, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of all Defendants, Miami-Dade County, Daniel Bolline, and Angelica Kenyon, on all claims brought by Plaintiff Treena Wright. The jury found that the Plaintiff was not entitled to any relief or damages, and therefore awarded her $0.00. Judgment was entered accordingly in favor of the Defendants.