Woman Claims Pittsburgh Police Union Discriminated

A Brighton Heights woman claims in a federal lawsuit that the union representing the Pittsburgh police discriminated against her because of her disability and race and retaliated against her when she filed a discrimination claim.

Cathy Thomas-Taylor, 46, claims Fort Pitt Lodge No. 1 of the Fraternal Order of Police refused to file several grievances for her when she was in a long-running dispute with the city over the pay and benefits she should receive while recovering from a back injury.

Thomas-Taylor was a police officer for 20 years but was unable to collect her pension because of the union's actions, according to the lawsuit filed Saturday.

The lawsuit seeks the wages and benefits she says she lost from the union failing to adequately represent her in her claims against the city as well as punitive damages.