BWI Deputy Chief Ordered Reinstated

Posted by: Curt Varone November 7, 2014 0

An African American deputy chief who was fired from the BWI Airport last March, has been ordered reinstated and granted back pay by an administrative law judge.

Gregory Lawrence, who was serving as the interim fire chief at Baltimore Washington International Airport when he was fired last spring, claimed his was the victim of racial discrimination.

Administrative law judge Nancy E. Paige agreed and in a 54-page decision concluded it “was more likely than not that the only reason for termination of the Employee was his race.”

Paige ordered Chief Lawrence reinstated and awarded him full back pay. Incidentally, BWI is now named the Thurgood Marshall Airport, after the first African-American Supreme Court justice.

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.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Terminated Iowa Firefighter Alleges Due Process Violation

A volunteer firefighter in Iowa who was terminated last year, has filed suit pro se in US District Court for the District of Iowa claiming a violation of his Fourteenth Amendment rights. Paul Anthony Reed, Sr. filed suit today naming the City of West Liberty, the West Liberty Fire Department, the mayor, city manager, fire chief and assistant chief.

Court Dismisses Illinois Firefighter’s Civil Rights Suit Against Arson Investigator

The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has dismissed a lawsuit accusing an arson investigator of fabricating evidence and violating an arson suspect’s civil rights. The suit was brought by a firefighter who claims he and the investigator had a history that led to the arson charges being brought.