Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

The owners of a California hotel have filed suit against a city, a fire protection district, a building inspector, and a fire marshal claiming they unlawfully “red tagged” the building resulting in economic damages in the millions. The owners filed suit against the City of Anderson, Anderson Fire Protection District, city building inspector Brad Hawkins, fire marshal Steven Allred alleging a violation of their constitutional rights.

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There are two cases in the Fire Law headlines today, both being follow-ups of cases we covered previously. In New York, the Supreme Court for Oswego County has ruled that individual taxpayers lack standing to challenge a tax increase imposed by a fire district.

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A Rhode Island IAFF union president who is facing termination for threatening his fire chief with a vote of no confidence, has filed suit claiming his termination constitutes retaliation for his union advocacy, his whistleblower activities, and for exercising his protected free speech rights. Captain David M. McGovern, currently the Acting Union President of Tiverton Firefighters IAFF Local 1703, filed suit in US District Court.

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An EMS crew from Catskill, New York is facing an investigation following the release of a video showing their treatment of a patient. The crew rather callously refused to carry the man to the EMS vehicle, allowing him to fall in the ambulance between the stretcher and the bench seat.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 20, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a suit filed by 4 FDNY firefighters who claim that a policy of placing units out of service for their annual medical exams led to ...

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Four FDNY firefighters who were seriously injured last year, have filed suit against the city claiming that a policy of placing units out of service for their annual medical exams led to a delay in attacking the fire that resulted in their injuries. The firefighters are seeking $80 million in damages.

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Two North Carolina firefighters have filed suit claiming they were the victims of a hostile work environment, age discrimination, and retaliation after they complained. Thomas Rumley and Robert Patterson filed separate suits against the City of Graham, Fire Chief Tommy Cole, Captain Jason Moore and City Manager Megan Garner.

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The San Bernardino County Fire Department is being sued by an environmental contractor over the presence of PCBs in the department’s waste oil. The suit was brought in San Bernardino County Superior Court by Asbury Environmental Services doing business as World Oil Environmental Services.

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A Georgia fire chief who was terminated last month for allegedly bullying and disrespecting city officials, is claiming that he was actually fired for speaking up about staffing and budgeting concerns. Former Tybee Island Fire Chief Ronald Kendrick spoke with WJCL 22 News, denying the city’s stated reasons for his removal.

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The City of Nashville has been ordered by a federal court jury to pay a deputy fire marshal $250,000 plus attorneys fees. Maggie Lawrence claimed she was the victim of gender, race and age discrimination when she was passed over for promotion to fire marshal in 2022.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 13, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss an Ohio lawsuit  alleging gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination following the denial of a light-duty assignment;  a criminal case from Canada resulting from an altercation ...

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An Ohio firefighter is suing her department alleging gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination following the denial of her request for a light-duty assignment. Melissa Holland filed suit against Washington Township claiming the fire department’s decision to limit light-duty assignments to job-related injuries is unlawful.

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A criminal case is underway in Ottawa, Canada over a 2022 firehouse altercation precipitated by – of all things – an argument over washing-dishes. Firefighter Eric Einagel is accused of assaulting a rookie firefighter, Ash Weaver.

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The Lynchburg Fire Department has prevailed in a gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a former female firefighter. Master Firefighter Mary Lynn Shumate brought the suit claiming that she was demoted in 2022 in retaliation for filing a complaint alleging a hostile work environment and bullying.

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