The Shawnee Fire Department and an ex-firefighter who claimed she was discriminated against and illegally fired finalized a settlement in U.S. federal court.

On Sept. 22 in the U.S. District Court of Kansas, the case of Rachel Mercer v. the Shawnee Fire Department was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can’t be re-opened, after the two sides reached an undisclosed settlement. The judgment was finalized on Oct. 22.

Mercer, a five-year veteran of the Shawnee Fire Department, filed the discrimination charge in October 2025 after she was allegedly illegally terminated from the job in 2025 and was not given a second chance. The city denied any wrongdoing.

Mercer claimed she was discriminated against throughout her tenure

Hired as a firefighter by the Shawnee Fire Department in January 2020, Mercer received positive performance evaluations, was recognized for her professionalism, did volunteer work and had no previous disciplinary action, according to the lawsuit.

As one of two female firefighters on a roster of 50 in the department, she claimed male employees were treated more favorably in regards to pay and vacation time, promotions and training. She also claimed she was subjected to sexist remarks, which management knew about but never addressed, the lawsuit stated.

The city denied all of the allegations concerning harassment, discrimination and unlawful termination outlined in the lawsuit, it stated in court documents.

In January 2025, Mercer was placed on administrative leave after an unspecified off-duty incident in Missouri.

Mercer was fired in March 2025

On March 6, 2025, Mercer was interviewed by a city human resources department representative and the city prosecutor, according to court documents. She claimed the meeting happened without her having legal representation and was meant to intimidate and threaten her. The city denied all of the allegations.

On March 11, 2025, she was fired.

“(Mercer) was discharged for legitimate, non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons,” the city stated in court documents.

Despite appealing her termination and asking for a peer review hearing, as well as gathering signatures from department employees as part of a petition asking the fire department to give her a second chance, the department denied giving her a hearing and let her termination stand.

Mercer claimed in the lawsuit that at least seven other firefighters in the department had been given second chances, with violations ranging from being intoxicated on the job, getting DUIs and failing drug tests. The city claimed those allegations were “vague and ambiguous” and therefore denied them.

After her firing, the lawsuit also claimed the Shawnee Fire Department officials contacted other fire departments to damage her work record. The city denied that any retaliatory action occurred, it stated in court documents.

“Ms. Mercer found these events to be humiliating, hurtful, and damaging to her reputation,” the lawsuit stated.

Both sides met in September

While the case had a trial set for December 2027, both sides met on Sept. 4 with a mediator for a four-hour session.

Following the meeting, on Sept. 18, the City of Shawnee and Mercer agreed to an undisclosed settlement, according to court documents.

Both the City of Shawnee and Sarah Duggan, Mercer’s attorney, turned down requests for comment from the Johnson County Post.