Louisiana Firefighters Settle Suit for $395k
A group of 35 firefighters have settled a decade’s long lawsuit against the City of Ruston, Louisiana for $395,000. The suit was filed in 2001 over the way that officers’ compensation was being calculated.
The suit alleged that the city failed to comply with a state law mandating that officers be paid a minimum pay differential above firefighters’ base pay. At the time suit was filed, base pay for firefighters was $4.35 per hour, $5.15 for firefighters with EMT. State law required captains to be paid at least 25% more than firefighters, which the suit alleged was not being done.
Both sides expressed relief that the suit was finally over. The city aldermen voted earlier this week to allocate $395,000 from the general fund into the fire department’s budget.
