Tag Archives: Austin Fire Department

Fire Law Roundup for August 12, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for August 12, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss discipline to ten Cleveland firefighters over questions about working for a second department while schedule to work in Cleveland; an appellate court ruling that Houston ...

Time-Off for Union Officials Found To Violate Gift Clause in Arizona but Not Texas

Two recent state supreme court decisions have called into question whether certain types of time-off for union officials violates state constitutional provisions on gifts. The Arizona & Texas Supreme Courts handed down strikingly similar rulings that differed primarily in the specifics of the time-off provisions for union officials.

Fire Law Roundup for November 28, 2022

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 28, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a federal court ruling that two believed-to-be volunteer firefighters who received shift stipends and point-based bonuses were actually employees entitled to minimum wage and overtime ...

Texas Court of Appeals Upholds Union Time-Off as Constitutional

The Texas Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Austin Firefighters IAFF Local 975 in a suit brought by self-proclaimed government “watchdogs” who alleged that granting union officials paid time off violates the Texas Constitution. The suit was brought in 2016 by two Austin residents with the support of two watchdog groups.

Austin Firefighter Sues City and Peeping Lieutenant

The Austin firefighter who was victimized by a voyeuristic lieutenant who secretly filmed her, has filed suit naming him and the city as defendants. Kelly Gall filed suit accusing the city of being aware of prior complaints of sexually inappropriate behavior by Lieutenant James Baker and failing to take sufficient measures.

Fired Texas Recruit Files Race Discrimination Suit

An Austin firefighter cadet who was fired in 2016 for poor performance has filed suit claiming he was the victim of race discrimination. Damon Easter filed suit last Friday in US District Court accusing the department and academy instructors of being on a “continuous crusade” against him...

Austin Challenges Comp Benefits for Firefighter with Cancer

An Austin firefighter who was awarded job-related workers compensation benefits for cancer is now facing a court challenge by the city. Lieutenant Carrie Stewart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She was awarded comp benefits initially, and that decision was upheld by a three judge workers comp panel.

Complaints About Austin’s Peeping Lieutenant Expand

An Austin fire lieutenant who resigned in September amidst a criminal investigation into his having secretly filmed female subordinates in fire station locker rooms, is in the news again as firefighters are claiming they reported inappropriate behavior to the department years ago.

Austin Fire Lieutenant Accused of Secret Recording of Women In Firehouse Locker Room

A lieutenant with the Austin Fire Department is being investigated for placing hidden recording equipment in a women's locker room at a city firehouse. Neither the officer nor the station have been identified but the department has confirmed he has retired.

Texas Fire Captain Suspended Over Facebook Posts

A fire captain in Austin, Texas has been suspended for 30 days without pay for posting political comments on Facebook. Captain Gregory Zenkner agreed to the terms of the discipline rather than face an indefinite suspension (a Texas term for termination) or a demotion.

Austin Firefighters Angered Over 16 Suspensions

Austin Firefighters are taking to the media with concerns about the growing number of firefighters being suspended for traffic incidents. Sixteen firefighters have been suspended in the past month, prompting IAFF Local 975 President Bob Nicks to complain about an “over-punishing environment” that is “harmful to morale”.

Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone