Fire Law Blog

The former fire chief of the Hagerman Fire District has filed suit against the district and its board of directors alleging gender discrimination, hostile workplace, and retaliation under state and federal law. Nicole Pannhurst filed suit in US District Court alleging violations of Title VII, New York’s Human Rights Law, and civil rights violations under 42 USC § 1983.

The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois handed down a split decision on a disability discrimination case filed by a paramedic candidate for the Chicago Fire Department. Donna Griffin filed suit after the Chicago Fire Department concluded she was “not medically fit” due to the medications she was taking for adjustment disorder and insomnia.

A former FDNY firefighter who claims to have been sexually assaulted and racially discriminated against on his first day in the firehouse, has lost his latest legal battle. The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a jury verdict in favor of the city in a suit brought by Gordon Springs.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 22, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a wrongful death sue brought against two firefighters and a city over the death of a homeless man who overdosed; the settlement of a wrongful death suit against the Chicago Fire Department for a missed DOA; a ruling by the ...

The estate of an Ohio man who died while being transported to the hospital, has filed suit against two fire department medics and the City of Middletown. William “Billy” Jeffreys died while being transported by a Middletown Fire Department ambulance from a city warming center to the Atrium Medical Center on March 7, 2022.

The City of Chicago is poised to settle a wrongful death suit involving a mistaken DOA for $5 million. The lawsuit involves the death of Whitfield Marshall in 2019.

The dismissal of a lawsuit filed by volunteer firefighter who was injured while preparing for a drill competition, has been upheld by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. The suit was brought by William A. Knipper against the Lindenhurst VFD., Thomas Weckerle, and the Ridge VFD.

A court appointed arbitrator has ruled that a Washington state fire department cannot recoup the costs of paramedic training from a firefighter who took a position with a new fire department beyond withholding his final paycheck. The suit was brought by San Juan Fire Protection District No. 2, dba Orcas Island Fire Rescue against Alex Conrad.

The Hemet Fire Department is facing a lawsuit by the mother of a man who was killed in a vehicle accident last year. The fire department, along with the Hemet Police Department, are accused of failing to rescue Steven Collins Davis on January 27, 2023.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 15, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss an FLSA Overtime and retaliation suit out of Phoenix; an appellate ruling on the appropriate calculation of the death benefit of Missouri volunteer firefighters; an appellate decision upholding the termination of a West Virginia firefighter; A Nevada firefighter charged with ...

A captain with the Phoenix Fire Department has filed suit in federal court alleging he was improperly denied 7.25 hours of overtime and then retaliated against for seeking the extra compensation. Captain David Johnson filed suit naming the city and five chief officers for violating FLSA and retaliating against him.

The Missouri Court of Appeals has ruled that death benefits for volunteer firefighters should be based upon the average wages of “similar” career firefighters in Missouri, and not the value of the benefits received by “similar” volunteers. The case was brought by Susan Hayes, after the Missouri LIRC awarded her $40 per week in benefits following the death of her husband, Russell.

A West Virginia fire lieutenant who was terminated after a series of off-duty altercations, has lost his appeal before the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Nicholas Graley was terminated by the City of South Charleston in 2020 following three separate incidents, each of which resulted in his arrest.

A Nevada firefighter is facing three counts of possession of child pornography following an investigation into digital imagery located on several devices in the firehouse. Isiah Tureaud, 34, was arrested by Las Vegas Metro police following the discovery of the imagery on January 2, 2024.

The widow of a Los Angeles County firefighter killed in a house fire in 2022, has filed suit against the homeowner claiming that an illegal addition to the residence caused his death. Jennifer Flagler filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of herself and two minor children against Timothy Racisz.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 8, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss criminal charges brought against a Nashville firefighter for interfering with firefighting operations of another department while off-duty; the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a woman who was struck by a wheel chock belonging to the San Jose Fire Department; ...

A Nashville firefighter is facing criminal charges related to his actions at a fire scene in Rutherford County while he was off duty. Jacob Welbaum, 31, is facing five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct.

The California Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that a woman struck by a San Jose Fire Department wheel chock cannot recover because she failed to comply with the California Government Claims Act.