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

The 6th Circuit has upheld a district court decision dismissing negligence claims brought against the US by insurance providers who paid claims resulting from the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains fire. The fire burned over 16k acres, damaged 2500 structures, destroyed Gatlinburg, and killed 14.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 1, 2024, Curt and attorney Bill Podszus discuss a lawsuit filed by seven LA City firefighters injured in the explosion of a CNG powered semi-truck; a litigation mess in Clarksburg, West ...

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The Clarksburg, WV FLSA lawsuit covered last week has taken a turn with two additional proceedings coming to light. Firefighters actually filed two suits: the one we covered and a second suit filed in state court. In addition, the city terminated the fire chief who was a plaintiff in both suits.

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The US District Court for the District of Maryland has dismissed a disability discrimination and retaliation suit brought by an EMT with the Baltimore City Fire Department who sought to become a firefighter. Matthew Schaeffer was originally hired by the city in 2015.

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All forty-four members of the Clarksburg Fire Department have filed suit claiming the city’s method of calculating their hourly rate, regular rate and overtime rate violates the FLSA. The firefighters claim that the city pays them a salary, but has been making a mistake when converting their salary to an hourly rate.

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A battalion chief with the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department who developed long-COVID in 2021, has filed suit claiming the city violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by denying his request for a light-duty assignment. BC Sean Johnson filed suit alleging disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the ADA.

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Seven Los Angeles city firefighters who were injured in a truck explosion earlier this year, have filed suit against the truck’s driver, owner and manufacturers alleging negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty. A total of nine firefighters were injured in the explosion, who of whom suffered critical injuries.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 24, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a New York EMT sentenced for falsifying a court transcript; the dismissal of a contentious conspiracy case out of the Latrobe, PA Fire Department; a ...

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A former EMT and fire commissioner with the Woodmere Fire District was sentenced one-year in jail for falsifying a court transcript related to the dismissal of criminal charges against him for something that occurred while he was responding to an elevator emergency.

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A contentious lawsuit brought by a former member of the Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department, has been dismissed. Robert Forish sued the fire department, the fire chief, the fire company president, and a county police detective claiming they conspired to pursue criminal charges against him in 2021 without probable cause.

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The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit brought by Spokane firefighters who sought an exemption from the COVID19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds, and remanded the case back to the district court. The district court dismissed the case back in 2022 ruling that the city’s enforcement of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate was valid.

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The eight-year battle for back-pay by Houston firefighters has finally resulted in a resolution of their claims in exchange for a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. The city council voted today to approve the package by a 14-0 vote, with one abstention.

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Boston Firefighters, IAFF Local 718, and an executive board member, James Riley, have filed suit against the city and Fire Commissioner Paul F. Burke alleging that disciplinary action taken against Riley for an email he sent last year violates the First Amendment.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 17, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the case of a San Francisco firefighter who was viciously assaulted by a colleague prompting criminal charges, discipline and a civil suit; a lawsuit filed ...

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