The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, DC — A D.C. firefighter disciplined in the botched response to the beating death of a veteran New York Times reporter is suing the city.

Firefighter Frelimo Simba claims he was harshly punished in part because he is black, according to documents filed in federal court. Simba is seeking $3.6 million in damages in the suit, which also makes claims of a hostile work environment.

David Rosenbaum was beaten with a pipe during a mugging near his home in January 2006, just days after the longtime reporter in the Times' Washington bureau had retired.

A city report found that emergency workers initially believed Rosenbaum was drunk and didn't try to determine whether he was injured.

D.C.'s fire chief initially tried to have Simba fired; he was later allowed to return to work.