Fire Law Blog

The Colorado Court of Appeals has issued two significant decisions arising out of the criminal prosecutions of Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Lieutenant Peter Cichuniec for their roles in the treatment of Elijah McClain in August 2019.

A firefighter/EMT with Horsham Fire Company No. 1 in Horsham, Pennsylvania, was terminated after a racial slur was transmitted over the Montgomery County emergency radio system while crews were responding to a fatal motor vehicle crash.

We have covered the anti-trust lawsuits filed against the fire apparatus manufacturers since the first one was filed by the City of La Crosse on August 20, 2025. The last time I blogged about these suits was February 12, 2026. While the suits continued to be filed, I hadn’t paid too much attention to them beyond robotically adding cases to my database whenever I came across them.

Two retired Boston chief officers will not receive additional compensation for unused comp time after the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that the City of Boston had no contractual or statutory obligation to cash out the accumulated leave upon their retirement.

A volunteer firefighter and Lieutenant with the Pardeeville Fire Department in Wisconsin has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was suspended and ultimately dismissed from the department in retaliation for raising concerns about safety, leadership, and department operations.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 1, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a challenge to the dismissal of a San Antonio who was lawfully prescribed low-THC cannabis; a ruling by an Ohio appellate court upholding the termination of a Columbus firefighter who violated the city’s anti-harassment policies and workplace conduct rules; a …

A San Antonio firefighter-paramedic claims he was effectively forced out of the San Antonio Fire Department after testing positive for THC despite participating in Texas’ Compassionate Use Program and possessing documentation showing his use of legally prescribed low-THC cannabis.

An Ohio appellate court has upheld the termination of a Columbus firefighter whose comments to coworkers led to findings that he violated the city’s anti-harassment policies and workplace conduct rules. The case involved FF Robin Garrison of the Columbus Division of Fire, who was terminated in 2021 following two separate investigations.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a Bellevue firefighter who sought a religious accommodation from Washington state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The decision issued today, affirmed summary judgment in favor of the City of Bellevue in a suit brought by Firefighter/EMT Justin Jobes.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has granted the request of East Chicago Professional Firefighters Local 365 to send a lawsuit against the city back to trial court. The firefighters alleged the city violated Indiana Code which requires firefighters to receive at least 24 hours off in every 8-day period, as well as an ordinance that provides for six “reduction days” totaling 144 hours annually.

A Baltimore County volunteer firefighter has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving a fellow firefighter. According to Baltimore County Police, officers responded on May 5, 2026 to the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company in Randallstown for a reported sexual assault.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 25, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a  whistleblower retaliation suit brought by a Florida deputy chief; a federal court decision throwing out a race discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit brought by a Virginia firefighter; the reinstatement of an Iowa fire chief who sued earlier this year …

A deputy chief with Miramar Fire Rescue has filed suit against the city alleging retaliation in violation of the Florida Whistleblower Act. The complaint was filed in Broward County Circuit Court by Bruce Britton, who alleges he held multiple positions with the city, including Deputy Fire Chief.

A federal court in Virginia has granted summary judgment in favor of the City of Lynchburg in a lawsuit brought by former Firefighter Brian Younger, who alleged race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981 following his termination from the Lynchburg Fire Department.

An Iowa fire chief who was terminated in March and sued for wrongful termination in April, has been reinstated. The City of Mitchellville, Iowa terminated Fire Chief Mike Twohey following concerns raised by Mayor Tony Jensen regarding his leadership within the department.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed a jury verdict finding that the Town of Marshfield retaliated against former Fire Chief Kevin Robinson in violation of G. L. c. 151B after he opposed what he believed was gender discrimination against his niece, a probationary firefighter-paramedic in the department.

A California woman has filed suit in federal court alleging that she was subjected to months of sexual harassment and discrimination while assigned to the Calipatria Fire Department through a welfare-to-work placement program. The lawsuit names the fire department, the City of Calipatria, multiple California and Imperial County social service agencies, the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program, and a former fire chief as defendants.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 18, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a suit against a Louisiana Parish over a mansion that was destroyed following and fire and a rekindle; a wrongful death suit against the City of Cleveland over the death of a fire cadet attending the Cleveland Fire Department’s Training …

The owners of Nottoway Plantation have filed suit against Iberville Parish Government, its president, and the City of Plaquemine following the fire that destroyed the plantation's historic mansion in White Castle, Louisiana in May of 2025.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the family of a fire cadet who died while attending the Cleveland Fire Department’s Training Academy. The complaint was filed today in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by Terri Simpson, individually and as administratrix of the Estate of Symeon Sylvester Williams, Sr.