Disciplinary Action

The Cobb County Fire Department has completed an investigation into a cheating scandal that has led to the discipline of seven firefighters. The firefighters were taking a state-administered certification exam to allow them to serve as apparatus operations instructors.

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An audit report released last week by the New York State Comptroller’s Office confirmed that the treasurer of the Hannibal Fire Company stole at least $850,000 from the company. The treasurer, George Parry Jr., committed suicide last year as investigators were accessing the fire company’s financial records that were stored at his home.

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An already complicated legal quagmire in Labtrobe, Pennsylvania has gotten even more complicated with the filing of another civil suit. Firefighter Robert S. Forish filed suit against the Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department, the fire chief, the fire company president, and a county police detective claiming they conspired to purse criminal changes against him in 2021 without probable cause and in retaliation for his exercise of his free speech rights.

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Two African-American captains with the Mobile Fire Department who were disciplined after coming to the defense of an African-American female firefighter who was being investigated for a tattoo, have filed suit claiming race discrimination and retaliation. The suit was filed by Captain Jason Craig and Captain Rodrick Shoots, Sr. in US District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

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A judge has ordered the San Jose Fire Department to turn over investigatory records from the Pink Poodle Strip Club incident to the San Jose Mercury News. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Kuhnle issued the ruling on Friday concluding that the public records law mandates that the documents be released.

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A civil suit brought by the family of a 16-year-old girl against a former firefighter and the City of Marco Island has been settled just before the case was scheduled to go to trial. Nicholas Macchiarolo was a firefighter with the Marco Island Fire Department in 2018 when he shared explicit photos with the girl via Facebook Messenger and Snapchat.

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A class action sexual harassment lawsuit brought against a Canadian fire department has resulted in a novel settlement that will award victims between $10,000 and $285,000. The suit was brought last year by two female firefighters against the Leduc Fire Services, in Ontario.

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A $425,000 settlement has been reached in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former firefighter in Harrison, New York. The lawsuit was filed last year by the US Department of Justice on behalf of Angela Bommarito, naming Town of Harrison, its police chief, Harrison Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, and Fire District Number Two of Harrison.

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The US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld summary judgment in favor of the City of Kankakee in a lawsuit brought by a female firefighter who accused her officer of assaulting her while they were fighting a fire. Michelle Giese claims Lieutenant Nathan Boyce picked her up and pushed her on October 18, 2018.

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A lawsuit filed by a former Milwaukee firefighter over his termination has been dismissed by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The suit was brought by Michael S. Peden, who was terminated on June 17, 2020 for conduct that reportedly took place in 2017.

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A former fire chief and his son have pled nolo to charges involving the misuse of department funds. Thomas Perry, 53 the former fire chief of the Chapmanville Fire Department, and his son, Cody, 35, were indicted last year on embezzlement, conspiracy, and fraudulent schemes charges.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 29, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a St. Louis firefighter accused of using a credit card that belongs to the victim of a vehicular accident; the former fire chief of Denton ...

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A St. Louis firefighter has been accused of using a credit card that belongs to the victim of a vehicular accident he responded to earlier this year. Arnold Britt has been charged with one count of receiving stolen property and one count of fraudulent use of a credit or debit device.

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A Rochester firefighter who was required to attend a racist party while on duty in 2022, has filed suit alleging race discrimination. Jerrod Jones, a 14-year veteran, filed suit in US District Court for the Western District of New York naming the city and his captain as defendants.

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