Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: Brian Murphy

Demoted California Battalion Chief Alleges Retaliation and Bill of Rights Violation

A Glendale fire captain who was demoted from battalion chief last December, has filed suit claiming his demotion and subsequent removal from two special projects was retaliation for his opposition to what he characterizes as an “illegal directive” from his fire chief. Captain Brian Murphy filed suit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming his demotion violated the California Labor Code §1102.5 and the California Firefighter Procedural BOR.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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