Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Wilkes Barre resident angered because the township fire department aimed a video camera at his property, has filed suit against the department and it’s fire chief.
Joseph Naperkowski filed a three count suit against the Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Department and Fire Chief John Yuknavich claiming harassment, invasion of privacy, and private nuisance. It is not the first time that Naperkowski and Chief Yuknavick have squared off in court, nor is it the first time one of their suits have headlined here at Fire Law Blog. The pair have been feuding since at least 2009 when Chief Yuknavich accused Naperkowski of saying, “I’ll kill you, I’ll kill your mother, I’ll kill your family and I’ll even kill the mayor if he don’t straighten you out”, and Naperkowski sued him for defamation.
The crux of the current dispute involves a video camera affixed to a chimney at the Wilkes-Barre Township fire station and directed at Naperkowski’s house and property. Naperkowski claims the camera is intended purely to harass and invade his privacy.
Chief Yuknavich claims the camera is necessary to protect firefighters and the department from Naperkowski, who he claims has verbally harassed firefighters and thrown garbage on department’s property. “We’re protecting our property”, said Chief Yuknavich.
I will go out on a limb and predict a one-sided victory for the attorneys who represent the warring factions, and losses to the Naperkowski family, the Yuknavick family and the Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Department.
