Suit Alleging Unnecessary Damage By Firefighters Dismissed

Posted by: Curt Varone November 8, 2010 0

The owner of a historic building in the Borough of Glendon, Pennsylvania, has lost his suit against Glendon and the City of Easton for damage to the building following a fire on June 14, 2008.

Owner Mario Russo alleged that firefighters from Easton wrongfully damaged parts of the building "for no reason but to weaken the structure so it can't be rehabilitated." Russo further alleged when the building was demolished for safety reasons the day after the fire, it was done in such a way as to make it impossible to rehabilitate the structure.

The lawsuit was dismissed after Russo was unable to substantiate his claims. According to Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., the suit was frivolous from the start:  "You're taking a blighted building that had been in disrepair for years, and you're trying to say the fire department did more damage than necessary. That's just ridiculous."

No word on an appeal. For more on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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