BALTIMORE, MD – A federal judge has issued a split decision in a long-running employment discrimination case brought by Baltimore firefighter-paramedic Daniel Edwards against the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. The case, first filed in May 2024, centers on allegations of racial discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment within the Baltimore City Fire Department.
In a memorandum opinion filed this week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted in part and denied in part the city’s motion for summary judgment, while fully denying Edwards’ own motion. The court’s decision allows portions of the case to proceed toward trial while dismissing other claims as untimely or unsupported by sufficient evidence.
According to court filings, Edwards, who has served with the Baltimore City Fire Department since 2006, first filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May 2013. He alleged that his treatment by coworkers and supervisors at the Smokestack Hardy Fire Station, known as Engine 13, was racially motivated.
Edwards cited a series of incidents, including being told by a colleague that he was “not Engine 13 material,” discovering a soiled dinner plate in his locker with a mocking note, and prior altercations dating back to 2009 and 2010 that he said reflected a pattern of racial hostility. The city denied the claims and argued that the older incidents were procedurally barred because they occurred more than 300 days before Edwards filed his EEOC complaint.
Court limits scope of Edwards’ claims
In its ruling, the court agreed with the city that events from 2009 and 2010 could not be considered because they fell outside the allowable filing period. However, the judge found that Edwards’ allegations from early 2013—including the locker incident and verbal exchanges with coworkers—were sufficiently documented to merit further review under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and related statutes.
Edwards also brought claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act, alleging that Baltimore’s failure to act on his complaints perpetuated a racially hostile work environment. The court’s mixed ruling leaves some of those claims alive for possible trial or settlement discussions.
Key takeaways from the opinion
• Court grants summary judgment in part for the City of Baltimore, denying some discrimination claims as untimely
• Edwards’ allegations from January 2013 may proceed under Title VII review
• Claims from 2009 and 2010 dismissed for exceeding EEOC filing deadlines
The court emphasized that no further extensions to the case’s briefing schedule would be permitted after multiple delays. Edwards did not file a reply to the city’s final motion before the deadline. The case, docketed as Edwards v. The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, Maryland (No. 1:24-cv-01350-JMC), remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Case moves forward with limited discrimination claims intact