Apparatus

An additional lawsuit has been filed over the Kansas City fatal apparatus accident, this time by the apparatus driver, IAFF Local 42, and the plaintiffs in the three prior lawsuits, claiming the city is responsible for the $32 million judgment that was awarded against the apparatus driver. There is a lot to unpack with this one as a high stakes strategic chess match is underway.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 7, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a $32 Million award against a Kansas City firefighter personally for causing a crash that killed three people last December, discipline for two Denver firefighter ...

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A Kansas City firefighter has been ordered to personally pay $32 Million for causing a crash that killed three people last December. Dominic Biscari was driving Pumper 19 that ran a red light, collided with an SUV, struck several parked cars, and came to rest in a building.

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An Illinois fire department has filed suit against Seagrave Fire Apparatus, LLC, alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, and violation of the state’s “lemon law” due to problems with a new 105-foot Apollo aerial platform. The Lockport Township Fire Protection District filed suit today in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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The Virginia Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a firefighter on criminal charges of the unauthorized use of a vehicle because he drove a fire truck that he was not authorized to drive, to an emergency. Charles Raymond Arrington was convicted of violating VA Code § 18.2-102 over an incident that occurred on March 11, 2020.

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A South Carolina man who collided with a fire department vehicle while sledding earlier this year, has filed suit against two firefighters and the fire department. Randy Burnett filed suit against the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department, Captain Brandon Wilson and FF Jonathan Smith.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup, Brad and Curt discuss a LODD apparatus accident case out of Texas, a reckless driving with an engine case from Virginia, a fire chief theft case out of Louisiana, sexual harassment cases from Texas and Virginia, and several more from beyond the blog.

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A Texas court has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed against a volunteer firefighter who struck two other firefighters, killing one of them. Steven Paul Henderson and Robert Popp were struck by John Weston Roades on October 7, 2019. Henderson died from his injuries.

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A volunteer firefighter in Virginia who was facing reckless driving charges following an apparatus accident, has agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of improper driving. Conor Wright, 25, was driving a Front Royal Fire and Rescue engine back to quarters at the time.

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A third lawsuit has been filed against Kansas City arising out of a triple fatal accident last December involving Pumper 19. The accident killed Jennifer San Nicolas, Michael Elwood, and Tami Knight.

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A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a firefighter and the city of Kansas City arising out of an apparatus-involved accident last month. The family of Tami Knight filed suit today in Jackson County Circuit Court.

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A Louisiana firefighter is facing vehicular homicide charges over a fatal apparatus accident that occurred last June. Cody Kahl, 24, a firefighter with Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 5, is facing the charges stemming from the death of Gail Rippel, 83.

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The city of Kansas City is facing a wrongful death suit following a tragic apparatus accident on December 15, 2021. The crash involved an engine and a civilian vehicle that killed three people, two occupants of the civilian vehicle and a pedestrian.

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A Connecticut jury has ruled that a local fire department is not responsible for injuries to a police officer who claims that a passing fire truck struck him in 2018 as he was directing traffic. George Coleman was a police officer with the Trumbull Police Department. He claims that while directing traffic, a Trumbull Center Fire District vehicle struck him.

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