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Court Grants Protective Order in FDNY EMS Case
The mother of an infant who died while in state custody, has been granted a protective order against FDNY and other medical providers, mandating them to preserve documentation related to the incident. However, the court declined to grant the mother access to the medical information prior to her filing suit.
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Boston Firefighter’s Suspension Over Safety Email May Have Violated First Amendment, Court Rules
A federal district court has denied the City of Boston’s motion to dismiss a First Amendment lawsuit filed by Boston firefighter James Riley and IAFF Local 718, stemming from Riley’s four-tour suspension for sending an email about hazardous sidewalk conditions in front of his firehouse.
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Male NJ Firefighters Allege Sexual Assault and Harassment
A lawsuit filed by three current and former volunteer firefighters alleging sexual assaults and harassment has been removed to federal court. The suit was originally filed in March 2025 in Ocean County Superior Court by three John Doe plaintiffs.
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Fire Law Roundup for April 21, 2025,
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 21, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss firefighter discipline cases in Pawtucket, RI and Millville, Delaware; a discrimination suit brought by a deputy chief in Virginia over a demotion; a disability suit brought by an Arizona firefighter sued for not going for a post-accident test; a jury verdict awarding $1.75 million to a former Providence firefighter; and Brad’s landmark victory in Ball v. NY State Health Department. Firefighter Discipline in The Headlines Firefighter Discipline in The Headlines Virginia Deputy Chief Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation Virginia Deputy Chief Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation Arizona…
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Firefighter Discipline in The Headlines
Two firefighter discipline cases are in the Fire Law headlines, both involving possible criminal conduct. In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, eight firefighters are out of their jobs, four by resignation and four by termination.
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Virginia Deputy Chief Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation
A Virginia deputy chief who resigned in February after being demoted to battalion chief, has filed suit alleging race discrimination, gender discrimination, and retaliation. Tiffanye Wesley filed suit against Arlington County this week in US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Arizona Firefighter Claims Termination Was Retaliation for Request for Accommodation
An Arizona firefighter who was terminated following her failure to submit to post-accident testing has filed suit claiming disability discrimination, retaliation, and failure to accommodate. Jennifer Martin filed suit against Rural Metro Fire Department, Inc. in US District Court for the District of Arizona.
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Former Providence Firefighter Awarded $1.75 Million
A former Providence firefighter who already won a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in 2016, has been awarded $1.75 million in damages for the retaliatory denial of her application for an accidental disability pension. Rescue Lieutenant Lori Franchina filed suit in 2021 claiming the city’s refusal to grant her pension application constituted discrimination.
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NY Court Rules Medic Entitled to Jury Trial Over Discipline
In a landmark decision, the New York Supreme Court for Schoharie County has concluded that the New York Department of Health cannot discipline a paramedic through an administrative hearing process, because the Seventh Amendment grants the accused the right to a jury trial. That, in a nutshell, is the holding that our firefighter-attorney colleague, Brad Pinsky, was able to secure.
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Fire Law Roundup for April 14, 2025
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 14, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss Brad’s landmark victory in Ball v. NY State Health Department; a decision in the wrongful termination case of a Michigan fire chief; an appellate decision in NY ruling that despite a firefighter having cancer, and despite cancer being presumed to be job-related, he is not entitled to accidental disability retirement benefits because his disability is not related to cancer; a lawsuit brought by a deaf man alleging DCFEMS failed to provide him with an interpreter; the dismissal of a wrongful death suit against Annapolis firefighters;…
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Court Rules Against Former Fire Chief in Wrongful Termination Suit
A lawsuit filed by former Michigan fire chief has been dismissed by the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Fire Chief David J. Obreiter was terminated in 2022 by Kalamazoo Township.
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NY Court Concludes Cancer Diagnosis Not Disabling
The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court has concluded that despite a firefighter having cancer, and despite cancer being presumed to be job-related, he is not entitled to accidental disability retirement benefits because his disability is not related to cancer.
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DCFEMS Sued Over Failure to Provide Deaf Interpreter
A deaf man has filed suit against the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and two DC area hospitals for violating his rights under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Ryan Barrett filed suit today in US District Court for the District of Columbia.
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Court Dismisses Wrongful Death Suit Against Annapolis Firefighters
The US District Court for the District of Maryland has dismissed a civil rights and wrongful death suit brought against the city of Annapolis and four Annapolis firefighters over the death of a man in 2021. Renardo Green, 51 died on June 1, 2021 after a struggle with police and firefighters.
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