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California Fire Department Sued Over PCBs in Waste Oil
The San Bernardino County Fire Department is being sued by an environmental contractor over the presence of PCBs in the department’s waste oil. The suit was brought in San Bernardino County Superior Court by Asbury Environmental Services doing business as World Oil Environmental Services.
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Jury Awards $250k to Nashville Deputy Fire Marshal
The City of Nashville has been ordered by a federal court jury to pay a deputy fire marshal $250,000 plus attorneys fees. Maggie Lawrence claimed she was the victim of gender, race and age discrimination when she was passed over for promotion to fire marshal in 2022.
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Fire Law Roundup for May 13, 2024
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 13, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss an Ohio lawsuit alleging gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination following the denial of a light-duty assignment; a criminal case from Canada resulting from an altercation precipitated by an argument over washing-dishes; a gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit in Virginia filed by a former female firefighter; the sentencing of a Massachusetts firefighter to prison for secretly video recorded female colleagues in the firehouse; and a decision by the Washington Court of Appeals concluding that a PTSD statute for firefighters is not retroactive for retired firefighters. Light-Duty…
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Light-Duty Denial Prompts Gender, Disability and Pregnancy Discrimination Suit in Ohio
An Ohio firefighter is suing her department alleging gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination following the denial of her request for a light-duty assignment. Melissa Holland filed suit against Washington Township claiming the fire department’s decision to limit light-duty assignments to job-related injuries is unlawful.
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Ottawa Fire’s Dishwashing Altercation Case Goes To Trial
A criminal case is underway in Ottawa, Canada over a 2022 firehouse altercation precipitated by – of all things – an argument over washing-dishes. Firefighter Eric Einagel is accused of assaulting a rookie firefighter, Ash Weaver.
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Mass Firefighter Sentenced for Secretly Recording Female Firefighters
A former Massachusetts firefighter who secretly video recorded female colleagues in the firehouse, has been sentenced to eight months in prison followed by two years of probation. Nicholas Tillman, 39, pled guilty to seven counts related to the 2022 discovery of cameras in an Easthampton Fire Department firehouse.
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Washington Appeals Court Rejects Retroactivity of 2018 PTSD Comp Law
The Washington Court of Appeals has ruled against a former firefighter who was seeking workers compensation benefits for PTSD. Frank Shaw served as a firefighter-paramedic from 1989 to 2007 with Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue, an entity that ultimately became Kittitas County Fire and Rescue.
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Fire Law Roundup for May 6, 2024
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 6, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a suit filed by the families of three Baltimore firefighters killed in a building fire; a pink collar theft case in Pennsylvania; a civil action filed against a volunteer fire department and several firefighters alleging they conspired with police to have a man arrested; a decision refusing to dismiss a First Amendment suit brought by an IAFF union president who was terminated; and a burning question of whether complainants can serve as investigators. LODD Families Sue Baltimore LODD Families Sue Baltimore Pink Collar Theft in…
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Magistrate Refuses to Dismiss Wrongful Termination Suit by Texas Union President
A federal magistrate judge has recommended that a lawsuit brought by a terminated IAFF union president, proceed although the fire chief should be dismissed from the case. The suit was brought by Michael Teague, who was terminated last year by the Pedernales Fire Department (Travis County ESD 8).
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Burning Question: Can a Complainant Investigate a Disciplinary Infraction?
Today’s burning question: In a disciplinary investigation, can the lead investigator be the complainant on a case? I was under the impression that the investigator should not also be the complainant. Answer: The general rule is that neither the victim nor the complainant to an alleged disciplinary infraction should be assigned to investigate a disciplinary complaint.
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LODD Families Sue Baltimore
The families of three Baltimore firefighters who died in a 2022 building fire have filed suit claiming the city’s failure to catalog and mark structurally compromised buildings caused their deaths. Lieutenant Paul Butrim, FF Kenneth Lacayo, and FF Kelsey Sadler were killed, and FF John McMaster was seriously injured in the January 24, 2022.
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Pink Collar Theft in Pennsylvania VFD
The treasurer of a volunteer fire department in Pennsylvania is facing criminal charges for stealing over $90,000 from the department. Patricia Susan Tuttle, 41, has been charged with forgery and theft by unlawful taking following a lengthy investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.
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