Tag Archives: Bourne Fire Department

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 28, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a federal court ruling that two believed-to-be volunteer firefighters who received shift stipends and point-based bonuses were actually employees entitled to minimum wage and overtime ...

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The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a Massachusetts fire chief did not discriminate against a firefighter by requiring him to pose in his Class A uniform for an identification photo. Thomas Swartz filed suit claiming he was wrongfully disciplined by the Bourne Fire Department in 2016, in violation of his religious rights.

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A Bourne firefighter who was terminated in 2018 over comments he made on a medical run, will be reinstated following a Massachusetts Civil Service Commission ruling. Thomas Swartz was fired on August 22, 2018 following an investigation into comments he made to an 18-year-old patient and the patient’s mother.

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A lawsuit brought by a Massachusetts firefighter unhappy with the fire chief for requiring his photo to be taken, has been dismissed. Thomas Swartz, a now-retired firefighter-paramedic with the Borne Fire Department, claims Fire Chief Norman Sylvester ordered him to pose for a photo, and suspended him without pay when he refused.

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A Massachusetts firefighter who was disciplined for refusing to pose for a photograph on religious grounds, is suing his fire chief for violating his First Amendment rights. Thomas Swartz, a firefighter-paramedic for the Borne Fire Department, claims Fire Chief Norman Sylvester asked him to pose for a photo, and suspended him for one-day without pay when he refused

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The convoluted disciplinary case of a Bourne, Massachusetts firefighter that included grievances, unfair labor practices, civil service proceedings, state court proceedings, and even a Federal lawsuit has been resolved. In February, 2011 firefighter Richard Doherty was terminated over a number ...

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