Criminal Law

A former Palm Beach County firefighter has been convicted of fraudulently misappropriating $158,960 from a charity that helps folks who have cystic fibrosis. Elizabeth Genna Suarez, 34, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud yesterday by a federal court jury.

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In the aftermath of murder charges against two Illinois medics, two more stories are in the news related to the deaths of patients. In Chicago, a fire department paramedic has been terminated and a second suspended following an investigation into the death of a man last summer.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 23, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who suffered a stroke, but was mistaken for being under the influence; a discrimination lawsuit filed ...

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Two fire departments in different states are dealing with unrelated cases of firefighters being charged with child pornography-related offenses. In Dallas, driver-engineer Jesse McFall is facing a felony charge of possession of child pornography.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 16, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by the Supreme Court of Washington that the public duty doctrine, only applies to statutorily created duties, not common law duties;  a decision ...

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Two Illinois EMTs have been charged with first degree murder in the death of a patient they transported late last year. Peter J. Cadigan, 50, and Peggy Jill Finley, 44, are being held in Sangamon County Jail on $1 million bonds.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 9, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling out of Montgomery, Alabama upholding the resignation of a chief officer who claims be was constructively discharged; a claim my a Mobile firefighter ...

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The City of Rye, New York has agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit brought in 2020 over conduct that took place in a firehouse in the 1970s. The suit claimed that two officers of the Rye Fire Department sexually abused a young boy.

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A Colorado Springs firefighter who is facing criminal charges following a fatal apparatus accident last October, will have to pay for his own legal defense. Wesley Cosgrove was hoping the city would provide a defense attorney, but the Colorado Springs City Council voted 6-2 to deny his request.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Caroline’s/Bianca's Law into law today, making it a criminal offense to disseminate images of the victim of a criminal offense. The law was enacted by the state legislature last June after more than a decade of lobbying.

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An Ohio firefighter is facing federal arson charges for setting a series of wildland fires earlier this year. James Bartels, 50, is accused of setting at least 24 fires in the Wayne National Forest.

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A Polk County firefighter is facing felony charges for fraudulently submitting for working extra 24-hour shifts he did not work. The firefighter, Lance Taylor Dunn, has since resigned from Polk County Fire.

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A Miami firefighter at the center of a racially charged incident in 2017 that led to the termination of six firefighters, finds himself at the center of allegations that he beat a handcuffed prisoner. The incident occurred at Jackson Memorial Hospital in October, 2022 was caught on recently released security footage.

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A Texas fire chief who was planning to retire at the end of the year has been arrested by the FBI and charged with stealing pension funds. Denton County Emergency Services District No. 1 Fire Chief Mac Hohenberger was arrested at Dallas Fort Worth Airport as he returned from Las Vegas.

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