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California Fire Chief Sues for Wrongful Termination
A California fire chief who was terminated last year has filed suit alleging wrongful termination and an assortment of employment related counts. Larry Whithorn, who was promoted to fire chief in West Covina in December, 2014, was terminated by the city on April 22, 2019.
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LA Court Rules Firefighters Cannot be Ordered to Work in Higher Rank
Louisiana’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal has upheld a trial court ruling that firefighters in Kenner cannot be ordered to work “out of class”. The case was brought in 2019 by Firefighter Brian Drumm, an apparatus operator, on behalf of all firefighters similarly situated and Kenner Firefighters IAFF Local 1427.
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Mass Firefighter Charged With Soliciting Minor in RI
A Massachusetts firefighter has been arrested in Rhode Island on charges that he solicited sex from an undercover police officer posing online as a 14-year old girl. Edward Mathias, 40, a ten-year veteran of the Fall River Fire Department, was arrested earlier this week when he attempted to meet the girl in Rhode Island.
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Court Rules Illinois Firefighter With Epilepsy Cannot Prevail Under ADA
A judge has ruled that an Illinois firefighter who resigned after being diagnosed with epilepsy has not been discriminated against by his former fire department. Derek Reihart claimed he resigned because the Hanover Park Fire Department refused to accommodate his medical condition.
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Fire Law Podcast 32: Legal Implications of Corona Virus COVID-19 and Quarantine
In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone discuss the legal implication of the Corona Virus COVID-19 quarantine on fire departments and firefighters. Quarantine raises questions associated with sick leave, work-time, overtime, and workers compensation and all are discussed in the podcast.
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Wyoming Fire Chief and Wife Charged With Stealing From Fire Department
A Wyoming fire chief and his wife have been arrested and charged with embezzling funds from the fire department. Green River Fire Department Chief Michael Nomis, 50, and his wife, Stephanie Nomis, 46, were arrested today following a lengthy investigation by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
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Another Suit Filed in York LODD Case
The families of two Pennsylvania firefighters who were killed in a building fire in 2018, have filed a wrongful death suit against the building owner and a contractor. York firefighters Ivan Flanscha and Zach Anthony died on March 21, 2018 at a fire in the Weaver Piano Building.
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How Long to Maintain Training Records
Today’s burning question: Is there a recommended length of time an agency should keep training records such as class rosters? Our organization, to protect ourselves, archive all our records and have a management system for how long they are stored. Answer: Record retention requirements are highly jurisdiction specific and...
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Three Terminated Mass Firefighters Sue Claiming Retaliation
Three Massachusetts firefighters who were terminated just before Christmas last year have filed separate lawsuits claiming their firing was retaliation for cooperating with a state police investigation involving their current fire chief. Capt. Rebecca Boutin, FF David Kennedy and FF Kyle Miltimore filed their suits against the City of Westfield.
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Suit Alleges AFFF Polluted Groundwater Causing Testicular Cancer
A man who grew up near a military base in Pennsylvania has filed suit against the nation’s largest firefighting foam manufacturers claiming he developed testicular cancer as a result of drinking groundwater contaminated by toxic components of AFFF.
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Kansas Volunteer Charged With Arson
A volunteer firefighter from Kansas has been arrested for setting two grass fires last week. Samuel Gilbert, 22, is facing two counts of arson as an investigation unfolds looking into a series of suspicious fires stretching back to 2019. Gilbert has been a member of the Riley County Fire Department since 2017.
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Judge Tosses Wilmington LODD Suit
A federal judge in Delaware has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the families of three Wilmington firefighters who were killed and three other firefighters who were injured in a 2016 building fire. The September 24, 2016 fire claimed the lives of Lieutenant Christopher Leach, FF Ardythe Hope, and FF Jerry Fickes
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Cal Fire Local Sues To Ensure Seasonal Firefighters Are Protected by the Firefighter Procedural Bill of Rights
CAL FIRE Local 2881 has filed suit against the California State Personnel Board and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection challenging their refusal to provide seasonal firefighters with the protections of California Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act.
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HIPAA Violation Results in $65k Settlement
The loss of an unencrypted laptop computer containing protected health information off the back bumper of an ambulance belonging to West Georgia Ambulance Inc., resulted in a federal investigation into HIPAA violations and a settlement agreement requiring the company to pay $65,000.
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