Promotions

The Appellate Division of New Jersey Superior Court has upheld a decision to remove a firefighter from a promotional list based on his poor disciplinary record. John Shaw sought to challenge his removal from the promotional list for lieutenant in the Belleville Fire Department, claiming it was politically based due to his record as a Democrat conflicting with the Republican-leaning administration.

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A lawsuit filed by a deputy fire marshal with the Nashville Fire Department claiming that she was passed over for promotion to fire marshal on account of her gender and age, and then retaliated against when she complained, has survived the city’s motion for summary judgment.

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A Wisconsin fire captain who was demoted in 2021 when the city reorganized its promotional process, got a mixed decision in his federal court lawsuit. Richard Haffner claims that Fire Chief Joshua Bell, the City of New Richmond, and the City’s Police and Fire Commission violated his due process rights by removing him as a captain without cause or a hearing.

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A Portland firefighter has filed suit seeking $1.2 million in damages for the race discrimination and retaliation he endured. Jason Wilson filed suit Multnomah County Circuit Court claiming he was denied promotions, given unequal training opportunities, and harassed on account of his race; and retaliated against after he complained.

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The Louisiana Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling in a promotional challenge case from the Kenner Fire Department. The case involves the fire chief’s decision to deny Joseph Sunseri a promotion to Assistant Fire Chief, following some difficulties he encountered while serving in the position during a “working test period”.

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A Peekskill, New York firefighter of Middle-Eastern ancestry has filed suit against the city, the firefighters’ union, and the fire chief alleging race and ethnicity discrimination. Robert Pappas claims he was passed over three times for promotion to lieutenant, and when he complained he was retaliated against by being denied injured-on-duty status for a work-related injury.

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Another Topeka, Kansas fire captain has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit over not being promoted. Captain Barbara Hack claims that she was passed over for the same promotions that Captain Brently Dorsey filed suit over.

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When does a vacancy occur in an officer’s position? The answer might seem obvious and relatively unimportant. That would be a mistake. That very issue was decided by the Ohio Supreme Court in a case brought by IAFF Local 1536 against the City of Wickliffe.

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The US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has dismissed four of seven counts in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a Cincinnati fire captain. The captain, Janos Roper, will be allowed to proceed on the three remaining counts.

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A volunteer firefighter has filed suit against the Borough of Allendale claiming that elected officials wrongfully refused to confirm his promotion to assistant chief. Michael Pina filed suit against the borough, the director of emergency management, the fire chief and the fire administrator accusing them of an assortment of claims.

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Two Montclair, New Jersey fire officers have filed suit claiming their promotional system disadvantages Black firefighters. Captain Steven Marshalleck and Lieutenant Makkari Sampson filed suit in Essex County Superior Court naming Montclair Township; the Township manager, fire chief, and former HR director; Promotional Prep LLC; and an outside consultant.

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The civil service appeal of a Boston fire captain over his right to sit for an upcoming promotional examination for district chief has been denied by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission. Captain Kevin Ranahan filed the appeal after he was denied the opportunity to take the district chief exam scheduled for March 25, 2023.

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A battalion chief with the Sacramento Fire Department has filed suit alleging race discrimination and retaliation. Jonathan Burgess filed suit in Sacramento County Superior Court alleging three violations of the California Government Code.

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A paid-on-call lieutenant in Michigan has filed suit claiming his fire department discriminated against him on account of his race. Lieutenant Gary Reid alleges that the Farmington Hills Fire Department changed the requirements for promotion and transferred him to prevent him from promoting.

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