Pensions

Washington Firefighter Sues Claiming Military Discrimination

A Washington state firefighter who was repeatedly denied accommodations for his military service has filed suit in federal court claiming a violation of Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Brett Martinson filed suit yesterday against Central Pierce Fire & Rescue.

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Florida Court Rules Cancer Law Covers Illness Diagnosed Prior to Enactment

A Florida firefighter who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year, prior to the passage of the state’s cancer benefit law for firefighters in May of this year, has prevailed in his efforts to secure benefits under the act. Last week, Judge Thomas Ramsberger granted summary judgment to St. Petersburg Lieutenant Jason Francis. Lt. Francis sued St. Petersburg last July...

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First Suit Filed Over Florida’s Firefighter Cancer Presumption Law

A St. Petersburg fire lieutenant who was diagnosed with cancer last year, and who was denied coverage under Florida’s newly enacted cancer presumption law, has filed suit. Lt. Jason Francis filed suit against the city of St. Petersburg. He filed for benefits under Florida Statutes 112.1816 on July 1, 2019, which incidentally was the day the law went into effect.

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Minnesota City Settles Pension Surplus Suit

A Minnesota city has agreed to settle a dispute with its firefighters over an unusual problem: what to do with a $1.5 million pension surplus. The City of Maplewood filed suit against the Maplewood Fire Relief Association earlier this year following the city’s decision to eliminate part-time firefighters in favor of a full-time department.

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Charlotte Firefighters’ Pension Suit Headed To Trial

A group of 70 former Charlotte firefighters are one step closer to having their day in court, as a judge ruled today that their dispute over how pensions are calculated should go to a jury. The lawsuit was filed in 2016 and claimed the city’s method of calculating pension payments left them with only 86% of what they were owed.

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NY Chief Sues Over 9/11 Related Illness

The fire chief in Utica was in court yesterday pressing the city to have his leukemia treated as a 9/11 related illness. Fire Chief Russell Brooks filed suit against the City for denying his claim that his chronic lymphocytic leukemia was brought on by his work at the World Trade Center in 2001.

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Trenton Fire Hit for $500K in Retaliation Suit

Former Trenton firefighter Jesse Diaz has been awarded $500,000 in his retaliation lawsuit against the city and several fire officers. Dias alleges that after he reported a white firefighter for using the N-word he became the target of several ranking officers.

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Houston Loses Battle to Unilaterally Restructure Firefighter Pensions

A Texas appellate court has denied the appeal of the City of Houston in its efforts to unilaterally restructure its firefighter pension system to save money. The city sued the Houston Firefighters' Relief & Retirement Fund in 2014 claiming that pension costs were driving it toward bankruptcy seeking a declaratory judgment that the pension arrangement was unconstitutional.

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