Tag Archives: negligent supervision

Two Suits Filed Over LA County Firehouse Shooting

Two lawsuits were filed last week over the shooting at a Los Angeles County fire station last year. Heidi Carlon, the widow of firefighter Tory Carlon, filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court naming the estate of the firefighter-shooter, Jonathan Patrick Tatone, and the county as defendants.

Georgia Firefighter’s Sexual Harassment Suit Removed to Federal Court

A sexual harassment lawsuit filed last year in Superior Court for Macon County, Georgia by a volunteer firefighter, has been removed to federal court. Ondrea Zink filed suit against the City of Montezuma, Fire Chief Matthew Moye, and Mayor Larry Smith

Massachusetts Firefighter Claims Town Failed To Prevent Sexual Assault By Fire Chief

A Massachusetts firefighter who claims he was sexually assaulted by his fire chief, has filed suit against the fire department, the town’s selectmen, and the fire chief. Ryan Williams filed suit last week against the Kingston Fire Department, the Town of Kingston’s Board of Selectmen, and former Fire Chief Robert Heath over an assault that took place in 2017.

Burning Question: Liability Concerns Of A Volunteer Chief

Today’s burning question: What legal responsibility does a volunteer fire chief have for things that happen at the firehouse when the chief has left and gone home? If things like drinking on station property (which is already prohibited), minors being ...

Department Liability For an Unqualified Chief

Today’s burning question: Are there cases out there where a fire department was held liable for not having a qualified chief officer(s)? Our fire board does not seem to care that our chief has no qualifications what-so-ever. Answer: Negligent selection, failure to train, and negligent supervision are very common allegations in law suits. The problem is the implication of the question: is the main reason we want qualified people to serve as chief officers because we are scared of being sued…

Virginia EMS Provider Sued for $3.5 Million Over Sexual Assault

A Virginia EMS provider is facing a $3.5 million suit brought by a 22-year old who claims she was sexually assaulted during a transport by a paramedic who was twice investigated for similar misconduct. Regional One, Inc. is accused of negligent hiring and negligent supervision of former paramedic Keith Edward Dean, currently serving a life plus 20 year sentence for sexually assaulting the woman.

Phoenix Sued for Wrongful Arrest in Arson Case

An innocent man who spent 14 months in jail on arson charges has filed suit against the city of Phoenix and the arson investigators who accused him of setting the fire. Carl Vincent Ball Caples filed suit in Maricopia County Superior Court last week claiming the city failed to hire properly trained investigators, failed to provide the investigators with proper training, and permitted them to use outdated and discredited investigation techniques leading to his wrongful arrest and incarceration.

Connecticut Fire Department Not Liable for Arson By Volunteer

A Connecticut jury has ruled in favor of the Mystic Fire District in a civil suit filed by the owner of a house that was set on fire in 2008 by a volunteer firefighter. Gretchen Chipperini alleged that the negligence of the fire district’s leadership made the district liable for the actions of probationary firefighter William Celtruda who set the fire on July 25, 2008.

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