Tag Archives: PTSD

A Tennessee fire captain who resigned while facing disciplinary charges in 2021, has failed in his bid to claim constructive termination, disability discrimination, and violations of the FMLA. Newport Fire Department Captain Justin Gilbert claimed that disciplinary charges were brought against him due to his alcoholism, which was worsened by his work-related PTSD.

Read More »

An Indiana firefighter who claims he was harassed and defamed by his fire chief after suffering from work-related PTSD, has filed suit alleging violations of the FMLA and ADA, retaliation, and defamation. Chris O’Neil filed suit against the City of Richmond and former fire chief Jerry Purcell.

Read More »

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 21, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a lawsuit brought by combat vet who was denied employment by the Paterson NJ Fire Department due to PTSD concerns; a lawsuit ...

Read More »

A Marine Corps veteran who was passed over by the Paterson Fire Department due to concerns about PTSD has reached a settlement of his discrimination lawsuit for $415,000. Brett D’Alessandro filed suit in 2018 naming the City of Patterson, the mayor, the fire chief, a deputy chief, and the Institute for Forensic Psychology.

Read More »

The Washington Court of Appeals has ruled against a former firefighter who was seeking workers compensation benefits for PTSD. Frank Shaw served as a firefighter-paramedic from 1989 to 2007 with Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue, an entity that ultimately became Kittitas County Fire and Rescue.

Read More »

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 3, 2023, Bill Maccarone and Curt discuss a court decision in the case of a Washington state firefighter who alleges disability discrimination because he cannot take his service dog to work; ...

Read More »

The US District Court for the Western District of Washington has ruled that a firefighter who sought an accommodation to have a service dog accompany him to work at the firehouse, must himself submit to a psychological exam to confirm his PTSD condition, but his dog need not submit to a service dog evaluation.

Read More »

A Florida division chief who was fired in 2022 has filed suit claiming disability discrimination. Walter Ebbert filed suit against the Ocean City Wright Fire Control District. The suit was initially filed in Okaloosa County Circuit Court, and removed by the district to US District Court.

Read More »

A jury has awarded the family of a deceased Kansas City medic $100,000 for disability discrimination and retaliation. The medic died in 2018 from an overdose of prescription medication that the family contends was suicide brought on by workplace bullying.

Read More »

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 10, 2022, Brad and Curt discussed an investigation into a scantily clad woman filmed exiting a San Jose fire truck and walking into a strip club; a ruling upholding the termination ...

Read More »

A Minnesota fire captain who was terminated earlier this year when he was unable to return to duty due to PTSD, has filed suit alleging disability discrimination. Joseph Tiedeman filed suit against the City of Brooklyn Park claiming that its decision to terminate him in March, 2022, violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Read More »

An Oregon lieutenant who was pressured to remove himself from a promotional list for captain, has filed suit alleging discrimination on the basis of disability, veterans’ status, and whistleblower status. Daniel Krug filed suit in Multnomah County Circuit Court naming the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District and Division Chief Gregory Ladrow as defendants.

Read More »

An Indianapolis firefighter who was terminated in 2020 for being absent without leave, has lost his federal court lawsuit. S.N. claimed the department violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plus committed wrongful termination, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Read More »

A woman who was terminated from an administrative manager position with an Arizona fire district has filed suit against the board, three board members, and a former fire chief alleging retaliation and disability discrimination. Karen Jackson filed suit in federal court naming the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District.

Read More »