Wrongful termination

Terminated Florida Firefighter Alleges Disability Discrimination

A Florida firefighter-paramedic who was terminated after a cardiac related event in 2023, has filed suit alleging wrongful termination and disability discrimination. Michael Samuels filed suit today in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida against the Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department.

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Georgia Federal Court Denies Request to Remand Whistleblower Case

The US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia has refused to remand a former division chief’s whistleblower lawsuit back to state court. EMS Division Chief Summer Patterson filed suit against Bryan County Fire & Emergency Services and Fire Chief Freddy Howell claiming she was retaliated against and forced to resign after voicing her objection to the chief’s disciplinary decision making.

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Judge Refuses to Dismiss Claims of Former Cincinnati Chief

A federal court judge has ruled that former Cincinnati Fire Chief Michael Washington can only be removed for cause, and refused to dismiss his suit against the city of Cincinnati for what he alleges is a violation of his due process rights. Chief Washington was fired last year by City Manager Sheryl Long and Mayor Aftab Pureval.

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Second Circuit Upholds FDNY Vaccine Mandate From Due Process Claims

The Second Circuit has upheld the suspension without pay, and in some cases the dismissal, of some 86 FDNY firefighters who refused to comply with the city’s vaccine mandate in 2021. The firefighters alleged that the city’s failure to bargain over the vaccine mandate, coupled with the failure to comply with the city’s normal disciplinary requirements, constituted a violation of their due process rights.

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Appeals Court Upholds Termination of WV Fire Lieutenant

A West Virginia fire lieutenant who was terminated after a series of off-duty altercations, has lost his appeal before the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Nicholas Graley was terminated by the City of South Charleston in 2020 following three separate incidents, each of which resulted in his arrest.

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Terminated California Fire Chief Sues City

A California fire chief who was terminated in October following a vote of no-confidence by the firefighters’ union, has filed suit alleging ethnicity and age discrimination. Chief Angel Montoya filed suit in Contra Costa County Superior Court naming the City of Richmond as the sole named defendant.

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Missouri Firefighter Claims Disability and Age Discrimination

A Missouri firefighter who was terminated after being on disability leave for two years, has filed suit claiming disability and age-discrimination. David Horning filed suit against the Central County Fire and Rescue District, its fire chief and the chairman of the district’s board of directors.

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Denver Fire Prevails at Tenth Circuit on Discrimination Suit

A former Denver firefighter who claimed the department’s handling of his disability claim violated the Americans With Disabilities Act, and that his subsequent resignation constituted a constructive discharge, has lost his appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. David Perez filed suit in 2021 claiming disability discrimination, race discrimination, national origin discrimination and retaliation under both federal and state law.

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Fire Law Roundup for November 13, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 13, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss an investigation report into financial problems with fire companies in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana who are accused of misusing $8.5 million in taxpayer funds; the filing ...

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Former Chief Grieves Refusal to Reinstate to Prior Rank

A former fire chief in Florida is seeking to be reinstated to the department as a battalion chief. Scott Bullard was the fire chief for St. Johns County. He claims when he decided to resign as fire chief earlier this month, he was told by Interim County Administrator Joy Andrews that he would be allowed to return to his previous position as a battalion chief.

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