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Texas Court Rules LODD Firefighter’s Marriage To Another Man Invalid
In one of the most bizarre fire service cases in recent times, a state court judge in Texas has issued a ruling in the case of a transgendered woman seeking over $600,000 in benefits as the surviving spouse of a LODD firefighter. Judge Randy Clapp ruled today that the marriage between Wharton Fire Department Captain Thomas Araguz III, who died in the line of duty on July 3, 2010, and Nikki Azagus, was void because Nikki was formerly a man. She was born Justin Graham Purdue. Simona Longoria, Thomas’ mother, filed the lawsuit seeking to have the marriage voided on…
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Sex Discrimination Or Legitimate Disciplinary Termination of a Probationary Employee
Was it the lie she told that got her fired, or was the lie just a convenient excuse to get rid of a female firefighter who forced her way on the job to begin with? That is the issue at the center of a lawsuit filed last week in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Victoria Bozic was fired by the city of Washington Fire Department on March 5, 2009, shortly after she misrepresented where she lived during an alleged interrogation about her residency. Just six months earlier Bozic had been hired through a settlement of her…
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Michigan Jury Awards $12.5 Million Against Ambulance and EMT for Sexual Assault
Michigan jury awarded $12.5 million to a girl who was sexually assaulted by an EMT during a non-emergency transport.
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Normal Fire Department Sued for Wrongful Death
The horseplay related death of a junior high school student on May 18, 2010 has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against the Normal (IL) Fire Department and the local school department. The youngster, Donnie Hampton, 13, collapsed after engaging in a punching game called “body shots” in a school bathroom. The Normal Fire Department responded, treated and transported the youth, who died at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. An autopsy concluded that he had a heart condition that contributed to his death. Hampton’s mother, Jasmine Brooks, filed the suit on the one year anniversary of Donnie’s death alleging that school…
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California Firefighter Reinstated Following Investigation of Sex on Apparatus
A California firefighter has been reinstated following an investigation into allegations that he had sex on apparatus on multiple occasions. Firefighter Brandon Wilson of the French Camp Fire District was ordered reinstated by the fire board on Thursday. The accusations date back to 2007. For more on the story:
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Delaware Murder Conviction Upheld in Death of Michelle Smith
The Supreme Court of Delaware has upheld the conviction of Joseph M. Taye in the death of Delaware City firefighter Michelle Smith. Taye was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for the December 20, 2008 accident. Smith drove an ambulance to the scene of a prior motorcycle accident, and was attending to the injured motorcyclist at the time she was struck. Taye, a parapalegic who was using a long thin pole to operate the pedals of his vehicle, was returning home from a strip club and was speeding and tailgating the time of the crash. He fled…
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Clark County Firefighter Terminated for Sick Leave Abuse
The Clark County (NV) Fire Department has taken disciplinary action against a firefighter accused of abusing his sick leave. Firefighter Donald Munn, an 18-year veteran of the department, has been terminated. Munn logged $26,648 worth of sick leave in 2010. The abuse of sick leave in Clark County is being investigated by FBI for possible criminal violations, which may include fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to name a few offenses. Another 13 firefighters in addition to Munn remain under investigation. The FBI is going through approximately 2 million emails written by firefighters to obtain details about the abuse. Allegedly the abusers used…
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Oklahoma Wildland Firefighter Charged With Multiple Arsons
A wildland firefighter with the Oklahoma Forestry Services has been arrested and charged in conjunction with up to 60 fires set over the past two years. Mike Malenski, 38, has been employed by OFS for the past 7 years. He has been placed on administrative leave pending termination proceedings. Click here for video coverage.
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More Volunteer Theft in Illinois
The theft problem in the volunteer fire service continues: last week the long time treasurer of the Glen Ellyn (IL) Volunteer Fire Company, David Garmoe, was placed on administrative leave after he was accused of embezzling more than $260,000 in fire department funds. Garmoe, 54, a 26 year member of the fire company and treasurer for the past 20 years, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of theft, two counts of continuing a financial crime enterprise, one count of financial institution fraud, one count of money laundering, and two counts of forgery. The Glen Ellyn Police Department began investigating after fire company officials…
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Charges Dismissed Against California Fire Chief
A former California fire chief has been cleared of criminal charges that led to his dismissal in 2008. Chief Peter Egedi of the Fillmore Fire Department was accused of misappropriating thousands of dollars. The charges were formally dismissed today. Chief Egedi was placed on administrative leave in April 2008, and terminated in October, 2008. You may recall that he filed a wrongful termination suit in April 2010. That suit is still pending. Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Drescher said the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. More on the story.
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Edison Firefighters Back in Court
Firefighters in Edison, New Jersey have taken the unusual tact of suing city officials in Federal court for political discrimination and retaliation. The firefighters allege that recent cutbacks and disciplinary actions stem from political retribution that goes back years. Named as defendants in the suit are Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, Management Specialist William Stephens, Assistant Public Safety Director Richard Laid, and former Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez. Firefighters supported Ricigliano in her most recent election in 2009, but that support eroded shortly after she was elected. The firefighters previously opposed Stephens when he ran for mayor in 2005, and point to his…
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Firefighter Charged with Rape of 13 Year Old
Following up on a story posted by Dave Statter earlier today, a young firefighter with the Chancellor Volunteer Fire Department has been charged with statutory rape of a 13 year old girl following an incident in Spotsylvania, Virginia that involved a fire department vehicle. Justin Baber, 23, allegedly met the victim through a mis-sent text message, and she agreed to rendezvous with him. Barber used a fire department vehicle for the rendezvous. Here is a news video on the arrest. However several news sources are reporting that the victim “recanted” her story to a counselor. Others are reporting that she…
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Chicago Fire Ordered to Hire 111 Blacks and Pay $30 million
The case stemmed from a 1995 recruitment examination that showed an adverse impact (a statistical difference) for black candidates who took the test versus white candidates.
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More Volunteer Theft
Another case of theft in the volunteer service, brothers stealing from brothers. This time, its Ford City, Pennsylvania. Click here for the video. Ford City Fire Chief Scott Gaiser was quoted as saying: “We’ll be a little more vigilant about how things are done and kept track of. You don’t think it’ll happen to you until it does.”
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