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Fire Law Roundup for December 30, 2024
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 30, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a fire officer in Texas who claims he was passed over for promotion to assistant fire chief in 2023, and then retaliated against for complaining about age discrimination; the dismissal of a federal lawsuit against
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Baltimore LODD Suit Dismissed
A lawsuit brought by the families of three Baltimore firefighters who died in a 2022 building fire has been dismissed. The January 24, 2022 fire claimed the lives of Lieutenant Paul Butrim, FF Kenneth Lacayo, and FF Kelsey Sadler, and seriously injured FF John McMaster.
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Texas Fire Officer Claims Age Discrimination and Retaliation
A Texas fire captain who was passed over for promotion to assistant fire chief in 2023, has filed suit alleging age discrimination and retaliation. Marco Martinez, who is now a deputy chief, filed suit against the City of McAllen in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
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Suit Claims Georgia Firehouse Built on Wrong Parcel
A Georgia fire department is facing suit alleging they built a new firehouse on land they did not own. Gunn Properties, LLC. filed suit against the City of Fort Valley alleging that Fort Valley Fire Department's Station 3 was built on their property.
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Youngstown Firefighters Demand City Reconsider Outcome of Investigation into Fire Chief
Youngstown Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 312 is demanding that the city reconsider its findings following an investigation into Fire Chief Barry Finley. Local 312 filed a complaint over the chief’s comments and actions during a labor management meeting on September 6, 2024.
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Fire Law Roundup for December 23, 2024
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 23, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling in a race discrimination lawsuit filed by a New Orleans fire captain; a lawsuit out of North Carolina alleging a fire department terminated a medic over a drug test that he failed because he was using legally prescribed medications; a lawsuit by a fire captain with the San Antonio Fire Department claiming discrimination on account of disabling long COVID; a lawsuit filed by San Diego Firefighters IAFF Local 145 suit against the city claiming that the city’s refusal to provide details about allegations…
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New Orleans Discrimination Suit Pared Back
A New Orleans captain who alleges numerous instances of race discrimination, conspiracy, and due process violations will be allow to proceed on two of his race discrimination claims, but the remainder of his case has been dismissed. Captain Varrick Dyer filed suit earlier this year.
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North Carolina Medic Who Failed Drug Test Alleges it was Lawfully Prescribed Meds
A North Carolina paramedic who was terminated after failing two successive drug tests, has filed suit alleging the fire department ignored the fact that he was using legally prescribed medications, failed to accommodate his disability, and violated the ADA. Anthony Davidson was a paramedic for the Otway Volunteer Fire & Rescue.
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San Antonio Captain Claims Discrimination Over Long COVID
A fire captain with the San Antonio Fire Department has filed suit claiming he suffered discrimination and retaliation on account of disabling long COVID. Captain Kenneth Galan filed suit against the city alleging violations of the ADA, the Texas Human Rights Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and Texas worker’s compensation laws.
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San Diego Firefighters Claim City Violated the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights
San Diego Firefighters IAFF Local 145 has filed suit against the city claiming that the city’s refusal to provide details about allegations that led to a disciplinary investigation, violate the state’s Firefighter Procedural Bill of Rights. The case is complicated because it involves an EMS incident, pitting HIPAA concerns against the FPBOR.
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Massachusetts Fire Department Settles FLSA Lawsuit for $101k
The Town of Brookline has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that alleged that firefighter overtime was not being paid in accordance with the FLSA. The federal lawsuit was filed last year by two fire lieutenants, Brian Bergeron and Paul Trahon, who also happened to be union officers for IAFF Local 950.
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Fire Law Roundup for December 16, 2024
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 16, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the $850K settlement of Houston fire captain’s claims over a nude video; an Alabama lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation; a ruling in Tennessee dismissing a lawsuit alleging a firefighter was discriminated against on account of alcoholism and PTSD; criminal charges brought against a firefighter in Pennsylvania for submitting falsified credential, and a lawsuit filed in Maryland alleging a fire department failed to accommodate a firefighter’s disability by allowing him to remain assigned to a station with a low call volume. Houston Settles With Firefighter…
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Maryland Firefighter Alleges Disability Discrimination
A Maryland firefighter has filed suit alleging the department failed to accommodate his disability by allowing him to remain assigned to a station with a low call volume. Mark Levy filed suit against Howard County and Howard County Fire & Rescue, alleging violations of the ADA and the Maryland Fair Employment Practice Act.
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Houston Settles With Firefighter Over Intimate Video for $850k
The City of Houston has agreed to settle the claims of a former fire captain over the unlawful accessing and sharing a nude video of her. An intimate video of Melinda Abbt was accessed and circulated among firefighters, one of whom was held liable last year for violation of a Texas law titled “Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material.”
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