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Workers Comp Bars Recovery By Injured San Francisco Firefighter
A San Francisco firefighter who was critically injured when a city bus drove over a hoseline at a building fire, has lost his suit to hold the city and the bus driver liable. Matthew Vann suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent two weeks in ICU following the November 2, 2020 fire.
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Louisiana Appeals Court Upholds Denial of Promotion
The Louisiana Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling in a promotional challenge case from the Kenner Fire Department. The case involves the fire chief’s decision to deny Joseph Sunseri a promotion to Assistant Fire Chief, following some difficulties he encountered while serving in the position during a “working test period”.
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NY Court Rules That Resignation Terminates Firefighter’s Ability to Appeal Termination
The Rockland County Supreme Court has ruled that a firefighter who resigns in lieu of being terminated, cannot challenge the grounds for discipline. That decision came in the case of Robert Doremus, formerly a firefighter with the Tallman Fire District.
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Iowa Fire Department at Center of Nativity Scene Controversy
An Iowa fire department that has hosted a nativity scene during the holidays for the past fifteen years, has found itself at the center of a First Amendment controversy about the separation between church and state. The Freedom From Religion Foundation requested the Mayor and City Council of the City of Toledo to remove a nativity scene from the front of the Toledo Fire Department’s station.
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Terminated California Fire Chief Sues City
A California fire chief who was terminated in October following a vote of no-confidence by the firefighters’ union, has filed suit alleging ethnicity and age discrimination. Chief Angel Montoya filed suit in Contra Costa County Superior Court naming the City of Richmond as the sole named defendant.
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Fire Law Roundup for December 11, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 11, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit challenging the Cleveland Fire Department’s physical abilities test as discriminatory against women; an FLSA overtime suit in Brookline, Massachusetts; a locker search case accusing the City of Pawtucket of violating the Fourth Amendment rights of the firefighters whose lockers were searched; a wrongful termination suit brought by a female firefighter who was dismissed after reporting her ex-boyfriend (also a firefighter) with domestic assault; and an FLSA overtime suit brought by 26 fire inspectors against FDNY. Women Claim Cleveland Fire Department’s Hiring Process is…
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FDNY Fire Inspectors File FLSA Overtime Suit
Twenty-six fire inspectors for FDNY have filed suit in federal court claiming the city failed to pay them overtime compensation in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The inspectors claim they routinely work in excess of their regularly-scheduled forty hours per week, are not compensated for those extra hours unless they are pre-approved.
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Women Claim Cleveland Fire Department’s Hiring Process is Discriminatory
Two women who failed the Cleveland Fire Department’s physical abilities test in 2017, have filed suit alleging gender discrimination. Yolanda McKay and Christine Scott filed suit in US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio alleging a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
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Massachusetts Firefighters Alleged Overtime Violations
Two Brookline fire lieutenants have filed a class action lawsuit claiming the town failed to pay them overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Lieutenants Brian Bergeron and Paul Trahon filed suit in US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of 150 similarly situated firefighters.
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Colorado Firefighter Claims Termination Was Retaliation for Reporting Domestic Assault
A Colorado firefighter who was terminated in March, has filed suit alleging gender discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower violations, and wrongful termination. Jennifer Sokol filed suit against the Los Pinos Fire Protection District in US District Court for the District of Colorado.
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Federal Court Upholds Atlantic City Fire’s No-Beard Rule
The US District Court for the District of New Jersey has upheld the Atlantic City Fire Department’s no-beard policy. The policy had been challenged by a city firefighter, Alexander Smith, on First Amendment, religious, and equal protection grounds. Smith also claims he had been retaliated against for requesting an accommodation.
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