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Buffalo Fire Facing Discrimination Suit Over Fire Academy
The Buffalo Fire Department is reportedly facing a new discrimination lawsuit brought by three former recruits. According to WIVB, the suit was brought by a Black man, a Hispanic man and a “Polish” man in his 40s alleging race, ethnicity and age discrimination.
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Termination of Connecticut Firefighter for Bizarre Behavior Upheld
The termination of a Bridgeport firefighter in 2017 for acting “bizarre,” has been upheld by the Fairfield County Superior Court. The suit was brought by Bridgeport Firefighters, IAFF Local 834, who sought to overturn a 2019 grievance arbitration decision that concluded that the city had just cause to terminate firefighter David Greene.
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Family Claims Fire District Failed To Stop Harassment Resulting in Suicide
The family of a California fire department mechanic who took his own life in 2022, is suing the fire department for failing to prevent the harassment that pushed him to the brink. Trenton Jennings committed suicide in the parking lot at Station 17 of the South Placer Fire District.
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Fire Agencies Seek Over $120 Million in Damages for Two California Wildland Fires
Two wildland fire related lawsuits are in the Fire Law headlines, brought by the nation’s two largest wildland firefighting agencies, the US Forest Service and CalFire. The US Forest Service filed suit against Southern California Edison and Utility Tree Service over the Bobcat Fire in 2020.
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Fire Law Roundup for September 4, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 4, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a volunteer firefighter with the Hawaii County Fire Department who was burned at a wildland fire in 2021; a suit filed by a captain with a California fire department claiming disability discrimination after he was not allowed to return to full-duty following a non-work-related injury; a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court about when a vacancy occurs for civil service promotional list purposes; the termination of a firefighter who has a sexual harassment suit pending in Washington state; and the dismissal…
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Hawaii Firefighter Sues Over 2021 Burn Injuries
A volunteer firefighter with the Hawaii County Fire Department who was burned at a wildland fire in 2021, has filed suit against the department and three fire officers. Elizabeth Stabo filed suit last week in Hawaii’s Third Circuit Court, which covers Hawaii County.
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California Captain Files Disability Discrimination Suit
A fire captain with a California fire department has filed suit claiming the refusal to allow him to return to full-duty following a non-work-related injury constitutes disability discrimination under state law. Joseph Basinski filed suit against the Valley Center Fire Protection District alleging two counts of discrimination.
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Ohio Supreme Court Defines Vacancy for Fire Service Promotional Purposes
When does a vacancy occur in an officer’s position? The answer might seem obvious and relatively unimportant. That would be a mistake. That very issue was decided by the Ohio Supreme Court in a case brought by IAFF Local 1536 against the City of Wickliffe.
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Fire District Schedules Disciplinary Hearing For Firefighter Claiming Sexual Harassment
A fire district in Washington state is scheduling a hearing to discuss a disciplinary action against a female firefighter who has a sexual harassment lawsuit pending against the district. Samantha Ward filed suit against the Benton County Fire District #1 in Benton County Superior Court.
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Denver Prevails Again on Discrimination Claim
A probationary firefighter who was injured in each of three fire academies, and found to be medically unable to return to duty to complete her probationary period, has lost her race, gender, and disability discrimination lawsuit against the Denver Fire Department.
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Fire Law Roundup for August 28, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for August 28, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by Maui County against local utility companies over the recent wildfires; a suit by a former Alabama captain claiming he was passed over for promotion to battalion chief due to his race, and that after complaining about it he was retaliated against; a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former firefighter – assistant office manager against a Texas fire department; a decision by a Texas appellate court concluding an apparatus driver who backed into a vehicle while responding was immune from liability…
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Maui County Sues Utilities Over Wildland Fires
Maui County has filed suit against four utility companies servicing the island seeking damages arising out of the devastation wildland fires that occurred earlier this month. The suit names Maui Electric Company, Limited, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company, Inc., and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. as defendants.
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Alabama Captain Sues Claiming Discrimination and Retaliation
A former captain with an Alabama fire department has filed suit claiming the failure to promote him to battalion chief in 2020 was due to his race, and that after complaining about it he was retaliated against. Captain Demetrius Webb filed suit in federal court against the City of Homewood and Fire Chief Nicholas Hill.
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