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

Tag Archives: Howe et al v. City of Akron

Akron Fire’s Promotional Paralysis Case Settled

A nine-year long dispute that has held up promotions in the Akron Fire Department is finally over with news that the city has agreed to pay 23 firefighters $1.04 million in back pay and interest. The suit, Howe et al v. City of Akron, was filed in November, 2006 by 31 firefighters alleging that a 2004 promotional test was discriminatory against black candidates for lieutenant and white candidates for captain.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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