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San Bernardino County Division Chief Prevails in Age Discrimination Appeal
A former San Bernardino County division chief who was awarded $600,000 in 2016 for age-discrimination, has prevailed on the county’s appeal. Division Chief George Corley was terminated by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District in 2012 because his management style conflicted with that of newly appointed Fire Chief Mark Hartwig
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Volunteers, Day Time Help and the FLSA
Today’s burning question: Our volunteer fire department is struggling to get enough help weekdays. We are thinking about paying some of our folks to be available during these hours. Can we pay our folks $4/hour to be available? Answer: Volunteer fire departments have to be very careful when it comes to compensating their personnel in any way.
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Orlando Firefighter Sues For Wrongful Termination
The Orlando firefighter who was terminated for audio recording the rant of a City Commissioner while on a medical run, has filed suit for wrongful termination and retaliation. Firefighter-Paramedic Joshua L. Granada was terminated after he used his cellphone to record a hostile verbal encounter with City Commissioner Regina Hill.
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Texas Chief Seeks Recusal of Judge in Union Theft Case
A Texas fire chief accused of stealing $8,000 from a union fund, is seeking to have a judge disqualified from ruling on his motion to suppress evidence obtained during a search of his house. Former Brownsville fire chief Carlos Elizondo is seeking to have District Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez recused.
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Court Approves Settlement in California Firefighters’ Overtime Suit
A court-approved settlement has been reached between Modesto firefighters and the City of Modesto in a Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit over the inclusion of health care buy-back in overtime.
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Selectmen Order Maine Fire Department To Stand Down
A Maine fire department has been ordered to “stand down until further notice” as town officials scramble to address outdated turnout gear. The Town of Limington’s Board of Selectmen released a statement yesterday stating they recently were informed that the personal protective equipment issued to the town’s volunteer firefighters was more than ten years old
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Firefighter Sues FDNY And Colleagues For Race and Religious Discrimination
An FDNY firefighter who claims he suffered years of harassment because of his race and religion, has filed suit against the city, a lieutenant and two of his colleagues. Raheem Hassan filed suit last week in US District Court alleging 18 counts of discrimination and harassment.
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Firefighter Speaks to Media About Harassment Allegations
The El Dorado Hills Fire Department was back in the news this week with the announcement that Fire Chief Dave Roberts will be retiring. The announcement comes against a backdrop of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Firefighter Lisa Marie Mason.
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NH Inn Owner Sues Town and Fire Chief for $2 million
A New Hampshire fire chief is being sued by the owner of a bed and breakfast who claims the chief conspired with the town’s treasurer, with whom he is romantically involved, to damage his business. Joseph Torro filed suit last week in US District Court naming the Town of Bradford, Bradford's fire chief, and Bradford's treasurer.
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California Firefighter Sentenced for Pink Collar Theft
A female firefighter who stole $25,000 from a union-organized toy-drive fund has been sentenced to two days in prison and three years of probation. Holly Kaye Nelson pled no contest to stealing $25,583 from the San Bruno Professional Firefighters Association
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Fairfax County Fire Rescue Releases Latest Report on Gender Allegations
Fairfax County has released its report on the allegations made by Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley, who resigned her position as Women's Program Officer in January. Chief Stanley accused the department of tolerating and defending sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment.
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Sex Scandals – It’s Not Just US
Sometimes it is good to know that it is not just US. Of course, who we define as "US" is sometimes a tricky matter. Sometimes "US" is the fire service in general, so when there is a YCMTSU case involving the police, it reminds us that it's not just us firefighters.
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Utica Firefighter Ordered To Provide DNA Sample
An Oneida County Court Judge has ordered a Utica firefighter to provide a DNA sample as an investigation to sexual misconduct at a fire station continues. According to Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, "a female (firefighter) went out on a call, and when she returned she found...
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Chinese Man Sues For More Details On Fire That Killed His Family
A Chinese man whose wife and three children were killed in an arson fire last June, is suing to obtain additional information about whether firefighters mishandled the fire. Lin Shengbin is seeking a court order from a district court in Hangzhou into the June 22, 2017 fire that killed his wife, Zhu Xiaozhen and three children.
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