Diabetic Firefighter’s Case Survives Motion to Dismiss

The case of Syracuse firefighter John Williams who was terminated because of a diabetic condition, is headed to an appellate court. Williams was terminated after a series of incidents of lightheadedness in 2011 culminated in a vehicle accident.

In 2013, arbitrator Ira Lobel ruled that the city was justified in removing Williams from active duty in 2011, but that the city failed to follow civil service procedures in handling the case. Lobel also found that Williams was no longer unfit for duty because he had gotten his diabetes under control. Lobel ruled that Williams should be returned to active duty status.

When Williams exhausted his administrative appeals in February, he was terminated. He filed suit in April to challenge the termination, but the city sought to dismiss the case. Last week, Acting State Supreme Court Justice Walter Hafner Jr. denied the city’s motion to dismiss sending the case on to a full appeal.