Georgia FD Contemplates Settling Discrimination Claims

Posted by: Curt Varone October 23, 2012 0

The city of Albany, Georgia will decide today whether to settle three separate lawsuits filed by former Assistant Chief Roderick Jolivette, who claims he was discriminated against.

Chief Jolivette’s case is complicated. In 2009 he was fired for allegedly ordering on-duty firefighters to clean up a relative’s flood damaged house. He was later reinstated but demoted to firefighter, and soon there after got into trouble again. Chief Jolivette was allegedly stopped for speeding and identified himself as a sheriff’s office employee. He was charged with impersonating a police officer, but those charges were later dropped.

The chief filed three lawsuits, Roderick Jolivette v. City of Albany and James Carswell (#1:10-CV-54 WLS, U.S. District Court); Roderick Jolivette v. City of Albany (#10-CV-3048-3, Dougherty Superior Court); and  Roderick Jolivette v. City of Albany and James Carswell (#1:10-CV-106 WLS, U.S. District Court); as well as a discrimination complaint with the EEOC.  

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, all three suits and the EEOC charge will be dismissed in exchange for the payment of $280,000. In addition, Chief Jolivette’s will submit his resignation from the department.WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

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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