Fire Law Blog

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 13, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a race discrimination lawsuit filed by a former New Haven lieutenant; an appellate decision upholding the termination of a former assistant fire chief in Frisco, Texas; a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri sending a firefighter cancer suit against …

A Connecticut firefighter who was acquitted of a sexual assault charge has filed suit in federal court against New Haven, alleging that city officials racially discriminated against him. Lt. Keith Norfleet claims the city terminated him before his criminal case was resolved, while white firefighters facing similar criminal allegations were allowed to remain on leave.

A Connecticut firefighter who was acquitted of a sexual assault charge has filed suit in federal court against New Haven, alleging that city officials racially discriminated against him. Lt. Keith Norfleet claims the city terminated him before his criminal case was resolved, while white firefighters facing similar criminal allegations were allowed to remain on leave.

The Texas Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former assistant fire chief in Frisco. Cameron Kraemer claimed claimed the city violated its own personnel policies and unlawfully discriminated against him by terminating his employment while he remained out on leave for post-traumatic stress disorder. Chief Kraemer had served …

The Texas Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former assistant fire chief in Frisco. Cameron Kraemer claimed claimed the city violated its own personnel policies and unlawfully discriminated against him by terminating his employment while he remained out on leave for post-traumatic stress disorder. Chief Kraemer had served …

A federal judge in Missouri has sent a firefighter cancer suit against 3M back to state court after concluding that 3M could not have the case removed to federal court and sent to South Carolina where the AFFF mass tort litigation cases are being heard, because the firefighter expressly denied that foam exposure was part of his claim.

A federal judge in Missouri has sent a firefighter cancer suit against 3M back to state court after concluding that 3M could not have the case removed to federal court and sent to South Carolina where the AFFF mass tort litigation cases are being heard, because the firefighter expressly denied that foam exposure was part of his claim.

A Washington seafood company has filed suit against the City of Tacoma, alleging that tactical decisions made by the Tacoma Fire Department during a 2023 shipboard fire caused a contained fire aboard a commercial fishing vessel to spread and destroy a vessel valued at approximately $185 million.

A Washington seafood company has filed suit against the City of Tacoma, alleging that tactical decisions made by the Tacoma Fire Department during a 2023 shipboard fire caused a contained fire aboard a commercial fishing vessel to spread and destroy a vessel valued at approximately $185 million.

Three firefighters associated with the Howe Volunteer Fire Department have been arrested following an investigation into allegations that a 16-year-old junior firefighter was sexually abused by multiple members of the department during 2022.

Three firefighters associated with the Howe Volunteer Fire Department have been arrested following an investigation into allegations that a 16-year-old junior firefighter was sexually abused by multiple members of the department during 2022.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 6, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a Oregon lawsuit claiming a trespass order against a person prohibited from coming to a fire station is illegal because it prohibits them from attending public meetings; a ruling that FDNY must remove six cadet firefighters from EMS positions due …

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 6, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a Oregon lawsuit claiming a trespass order against a person prohibited from coming to a fire station is illegal because it prohibits them from attending public meetings; a ruling that FDNY must remove six cadet firefighters from EMS positions due …

A resident of New Pine Creek, Oregon, has filed suit against the New Pine Creek Rural Fire Protection District, its fire chief, and its board chair, alleging that a trespass order barring him from district property violates his constitutional rights.

A resident of New Pine Creek, Oregon, has filed suit against the New Pine Creek Rural Fire Protection District, its fire chief, and its board chair, alleging that a trespass order barring him from district property violates his constitutional rights.

A New York judge has ruled that the FDNY violated state civil service law by temporarily appointing fire cadets to EMT and EMS trainee positions despite the existence of eligible civil service lists for those titles. The ruling affects the six fire cadets who remained in those assignments at the time of the decision.

A New York judge has ruled that the FDNY violated state civil service law by temporarily appointing fire cadets to EMT and EMS trainee positions despite the existence of eligible civil service lists for those titles. The ruling affects the six fire cadets who remained in those assignments at the time of the decision.

Lawsuits arising out of code enforcement responsibilities lead to approximately 1.8% of fire service civil litigation. Two such cases are in the Fire Law News today—one newly filed in Massachusetts involving underground fuel storage tanks, and the other a federal decision out of Michigan dismissing constitutional claims arising from fire code and licensing enforcement.

Two former paid members of the North East Cabarrus Volunteer Fire Department & Community Center in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, have filed a suit alleging the department failed to pay overtime required by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

A federal judge in Alaska has allowed portions of a lawsuit brought by an Anchorage firefighter/EMT alleging military-service discrimination and retaliation to move forward, while dismissing older claims as time-barred.