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Oregon Volunteer Again Seeks $8.35 Million for Sexual Harassment
A former Oregon volunteer firefighter who filed and later dismissed a sexual harassment, whistleblower, and wrongful termination suit in 2021, has filed a virtually identical suit against the same parties. Amy Lenz filed suit against the Knappa Fire District and three district officials.
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Missouri Firefighter Claims Disability and Age Discrimination
A Missouri firefighter who was terminated after being on disability leave for two years, has filed suit claiming disability and age-discrimination. David Horning filed suit against the Central County Fire and Rescue District, its fire chief and the chairman of the district’s board of directors.
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Wrongful Death Suit Against Maine City and Firefighter is Dismissed
A wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Portland and a city firefighter over the drowning death of a man who was being pursued by police, has been dismissed. Eric Cohen died on April 12, 2020 after he jumped into the frigid bay waters.
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Fire Law Roundup for November 27, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 27, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a jury award of $250,000 to a former Houston firefighter against her former captain who shared an intimate video of her; a Minnesota city held in contempt of court for trying to start its own fire department; a ruling by a Michigan appeals court reinstating a wrongful death suit against the Detroit Fire Department in an apparatus crash case; a sexual harassment suit brought against a Missouri fire department; and the settlement of a suit brought against the State of Nevada by inmate firefighters over…
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Minnesota City Found in Contempt For Violating Injunction in FD Dispute
A Minnesota judge has found the City of Orono to be in contempt of court for violating her earlier order in a suit brought by the City of Long Lake over the breach of a fire protection agreement. The two cities, along with the City of Medina, are parties to an agreement whereby the Long Lake FD would provide services to the 3 communities.
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Fatal Detroit Fire Apparatus Crash Must Go to Trial
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a trial judge erred when he dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the City of Detroit by the husband of a woman who died in a crash with a responding DFD engine. India D. Sullivan died several months after the December 4, 2017 crash.
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Missouri Fire Department Sued for Sexual Harassment
A nurse who was hired by a Missouri fire department in April, 2022 has filed suit claiming that sexual harassment forced her to request a reduction to part-time status in September, 2022 and resign in December, 2022. Christeena Ferguson filed suit alleging 3 counts of sexual harassment and discrimination against the Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District.
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Nevada Settles Suit with Inmate Firefighters
The State of Nevada has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by eight inmate firefighters who claim they were mistreated while serving with the Nevada Division of Forestry. The suit was brought by the ACLU of Nevada and alleged the firefighters were subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.
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Fire Law Roundup for November 20, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 20, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss charges brought against an Indiana firefighter accused with impersonating a police officer; an Alabama firefighter who pled guilty to charges of stealing fentanyl from the fire department’s inventory; a ruling in a complex wrongful death suit that questions whether a West Virginia fire department is eligible for immunity protection for negligently backing over two civilians while operating at a mutual aid fire in Ohio; a ruling by the Tenth Circuit upholding the dismissal of a disability discrimination case against the Denver Fire Department; and the…
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Indiana Firefighter Charged With Impersonating A Police Officer
An Indiana firefighter who claims he stopped to assist a motorist whose vehicle was damaged, has been charged with four felonies after he reportedly pointed a gun at the driver after being informed by dispatch the man was “wanted” and could be armed. Yorktown firefighter Derek J. Rains is charged of criminal confinement, criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm, and impersonation of a law enforcement officer.
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Alabama Firefighter Sentenced to Eight Years On Drug And Computer Charges
An Alabama firefighter has pled guilty to charges of stealing fentanyl from the Dothan Fire Department, as well as twelve counts of computer tampering that he accrued after his drug-related arrest. Jesse Ryan Taylor accepted an 8-year sentence on state law charges.
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Wrongful Death Suit Against WV Fire Company For Fatal Accident in Ohio to Proceed
A federal court has refused to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed against a West Virginia firefighter and his fire department over the death of a couple at a fire scene in Ohio. William A. Reed, Jr. and Karolyn Reed died on April 29, 2021 at the scene of a mobile home fire when they were struck by a backing fire truck.
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Pennsylvania Firefighter Alleges FLSA Overtime Violation
The president of Lancaster Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 319 has filed a class action lawsuit claiming that the city has failed to include longevity pay in the regular rate for purposes of calculating overtime compensation. Geoff L. Stone is seeking to recover damages for the unpaid, improperly calculated overtime compensation.
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