Open Meetings Laws

Suit Seeks to Stop Lockport Fire From Resuming EMS Transport

The City of Lockport has been sued by a group of four people seeking to block the resumption of ambulance transport service by the Lockport Fire Department. The suit was brought by a current alderman, Kathryn Fogle, two former aldermen, Gina Pasceri and Joseph Kibler, and a city resident Blake Lemoi.

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Ohio Fire Company Sued For Open Meetings Violation

A volunteer fire company in Ohio that settled a public records lawsuit with four concerned citizens earlier this year, is being sued again by three of those citizens who now claim the fire company must also comply with the state’s open meetings law.

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Mass Town Challenges Open Meetings Violation

The Town of Southampton, Massachusetts, embroiled in a wrongful termination lawsuit by former deputy chief, is challenging an attorney general’s office determination that it violated the state’s open meetings law. The violation allegedly occurred when the town’s Selectmen met in executive session to "indirectly affect the employment status" of then Deputy Chief Kyle Miltimore.

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Mass Deputy Chief Sues Town and Fire Chief

A Massachusetts deputy chief has filed suit against a town, its fire chief and the entire board of selectmen claiming they retaliated against him after he brought to light problems with the oversight of EMS drugs and refused to lie for the chief.

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Michigan Chief Sues for Wrongful Termination

A nationally known and highly respected fire chief who was unceremoniously terminated by Northville Township in March, has filed suit claiming wrongful termination. Chief Richard Marinucci was told by township officials in March to resign or be fired

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Nebraska Suit Over Low Interest Loan to Ambulance Service Dismissed

A lawsuit to block a Nebraska city from providing a $350,000 low-interest loan to a new ambulance service owned by two people with ties to the city’s fire department has been dismissed. The North Platte City Council approved the loan to Priority Medical Transport, owned by Assistant Fire Chief Trent Kleinow, and Dr. James Smith, the fire department’s medical director.

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NYC Firefighters Sue Over Public Records Violations

The president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York, IAFF Local 94 has filed suit against the City of New York and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito using the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to publically allege that she has been “stone-walling” consideration of a pension related resolution.

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Fire Departments in NJ and Maryland Settle Suits

Settlements involving two fire departments are in the fire law news today. In New Jersey, a sexual harassment suit against the Franklin Township Fire District No. 3 has been settled. In Maryland, a wrongful death suit brought by the family of a 17-year old who died at a fire department sponsored carnival has been settled.

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Kentucky Firefighter Sues Over Racist Facebook Posting

A Kentucky firefighter who complained about racially offensive Facebook postings has filed suit in state court claiming his chief and other fire department officials have created a hostile work environment by tolerating such statements. Michael Williams, a firefighter with the ...

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NH Chief Fired on TV Files Suit

A New Hampshire fire chief who found out he was terminated because he happened to be watching a televised board of selectmen meeting from his home, has filed a wrongful termination suit. Fire Chief Peter Varney claims he was given ...

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