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Court Rules Baltimore County EMS Not Liable for Patient’s Death
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that neither Baltimore County nor an EMS crew could be held liable for the death of a patient in 2015. Baltimore County Fire Department Paramedic Nicole Nappi and EMT Traci Jackson were sued by the family of Ceontay Coit, who died on December 11, 2015.
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LAFD Sued by Former Firefighter Over Hazing and Harassment
A former probationary firefighter with the LAFD who claims he was hazed and harassed by fellow firefighters to the point of seeking help from a psychologist, has filed suit claiming disability discrimination and retaliation. Daniel Eble filed suit yesterday in LA County Superior Court under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
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Indiana Firefighter Facing Arson Charges in Overnight Arson Spree
A volunteer firefighter from Indiana is facing arson-related charges in a series of fires that occurred overnight. Jake Dougherty, 18, a volunteer with the Whiteland Fire Department, is accused of setting three homes that were under construction on fire in the early morning hours today.
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Detroit Sued For Negligence in Fighting Fire Where Firefighters Posed for Photo
A Detroit property owner whose building caught fire on New Years Eve has filed suit against the city’s fire department over a photo depicting a group of firefighters posing in front of the blazing home. The photo of Deonte Higginbotham’s burning house went viral and prompted questions about why firefighters were posing rather than extinguishing the fire.
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NJ Appeals Court Affirms Ruling In Favor of Fire Department on Disability Claim
The Appellate Division of the NJ Superior Court has upheld a verdict in favor of the Cranford Fire Department’s decision not to hire a firefighter who failed a psych exam. The suit was brought by Frank Rivera, who was passed over for a career position despite having served as a call firefighter for many years.
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Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Firefighter Termination
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that an at-will firefighter does not have an expectation of continued employment merely because a fire department’s employee handbook grants a right to appeal a disciplinary action. In so ruling the court concluded that the City of Cleveland did not violate the due process rights of firefighter Joshua Keller when it terminated him in 2012.
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FDNY EMS Workers Claim Retaliation For Speaking to Media
Four FDNY EMS workers and their union have filed suit against the City of New York and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro claiming they were retaliated against for speaking to the news media. AFSCME Local 2507, Elizabeth Bonilla, Alexander Nunez, Megan Pfeiffer, and John Rugen filed suit in federal court.
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Firefighter Social Media Toll Continues to Rise
The toll that social media posts are taking on the fire service continues to mount this week. Last week, Dave Statter listed 10 cases that hit the news, several involving chief officers. The trend continues. In New York, Hillcrest Fire Chief Rick Larson is facing a backlash following a post that discussed following rioters home and burning their properties...
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Suit Over Dispatch Errors To Fatal Fire Remanded Back To State Court
A wrongful death civil rights lawsuit filed by the estate of a man killed in a fire, has been dismissed from federal court and remanded back to state court. John Lew Brown died in a house fire in his mobile home in Ferry County, Washington, on July 26, 2016.
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Lawsuit Claims Spinning Stokes Litter During Helicopter Rescue Injured Woman
A woman who was being raised in a stokes litter that began spinning wildly out of control last year during a helicopter rescue, has filed suit against the Phoenix Police and Fire Departments. Katalin Metro and her husband George, filed suit last week in Maricopa County Superior Court claiming the incident caused her severe and permanent injuries.
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