Fire Law Blog

The Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama has filed suit against the City of Huntsville and Fire Chief Howard McFarlen, alleging the city violated the Alabama Open Records Act by refusing to release records concerning possible contamination of breathing air used by Huntsville firefighters.

A federal judge has ruled that fourteen DC firefighters may proceed with their disability accommodation claims arising out of a departmental grooming policy that prohibited certain facial hair. The ruling allows the firefighters to pursue claims under the ADA and the DC Human Rights Act.

A former Tennessee battalion chief has filed suit against the Town of Collierville and the town administrator, alleging he was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns with the mayor about fire department leadership, workplace harassment, and employee safety.

An Oregon firefighter has filed suit against Columbia River Fire & Rescue claiming the district violated state law by failing to award him disabled veterans' preference points during a lieutenant promotional examination. Steven Raichel filed suit in US District Court for the District of Oregon.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 19, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by the Georgia Supreme Court striking down a fire protection fee as an illegal tax; the dismissal of a negligence claim against the Los Angeles County Fire Department arising out of a response to an auto accident; a …

The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that a fire protection fee imposed by Chatham County was actually an illegal property tax, upholding a lower court ruling requiring the county to refund more than $30 million to property owners.

A California superior court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Fire Department and one of its paramedics over allegations that delays in treating and transporting a seriously injured accident victim resulted in permanent brain damage. The court concluded that fire department personnel complied with the applicable standard of care and that …

The Arizona Attorney General has filed suit against the City of Tolleson, challenging a policy that requires firefighters to repay $15,000 in training costs if they leave the department within three years of being hired. The suit alleges that the repayment requirement is an unlawful penalty that effectively prevents firefighters from leaving for better-paying jobs.

A California man has filed suit against the City of Richmond and a fire department engineer after he was run over by fire apparatus while sleeping outside a fire station. The suit alleges that firefighters failed to check the area in front of the station before moving the apparatus.

The Baltimore County paramedic who pled guilty in August to three counts of causing another to ingest bodily fluids has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Christopher Carroll was arrested in February following an investigation by Baltimore County Police into allegations that he recorded himself engaging in sexual acts at BCFD facilities and posted the videos online

A former administrative manager with the Rochester Fire Department in Minnesota has lost his appeal in an age discrimination lawsuit alleging that fire department officials forced him into retirement by eliminating his supervisory responsibilities, reducing his salary, and reclassifying his position.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 12, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a sexual harassment and retaliation suit in Ohio; a ruling by a Connecticut court denying a motion for summary judgment in a race discrimination and retaliation suit; the appeal of a arbitration decision in Massachusetts on the …

The City of Port Clinton, Ohio, has agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a former firefighter/EMT who accused the city's former fire chief of sexual harassment and assault, and fellow firefighters of retaliating against her after she reported his misconduct.

A Connecticut Superior Court judge has refused to dismiss a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by a New London firefighter who claims he was passed over for promotion to lieutenant in favor of a white firefighter who received additional points for seniority.

The City of Malden, Massachusetts has filed suit seeking to overturn an arbitration award that ordered it to provide injured-on-duty benefits to a firefighter who experienced back problems several months after reporting an injury at an emergency incident. The city claims the arbitrator exceeded her authority under the collective bargaining agreement.

A Massachusetts newspaper is reporting that a lawsuit brought by former Tisbury Fire Chief Gregory Leland against the town has been dismissed with prejudice after he failed to appear for a status review hearing.

A New York court has ruled that a fire district acted within its authority in adopting policies governing access to its firehouse and rejected a challenge to the district’s refusal to approve a fire company’s nominee for chief engineer. The court also transferred a challenge to the termination of the fire company’s president to the Appellate Division for review.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 5, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a suit against  a Detroit Fire Department captain in a wrongful conviction case brought by a man who spent more than a decade in prison for murder and arson, who was later cleared; criminal charges brought against a Philadelphia Fire …

A federal judge has dismissed the City of Detroit and Wayne County from a wrongful prosecution suit brought by a man who spent more than a decade in prison for murder and arson, but allowed the case to proceed against the Detroit fire and police investigators accused of withholding and fabricating evidence that led to his conviction.

A former Philadelphia Fire Department payroll supervisor has been criminally charged in connection with an alleged overtime fraud scheme that is already at the center of a federal lawsuit brought by a former First Deputy Fire Commissioner.