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

Tag Archives: New York State Human Rights Law

Firefighter Accuses Colleagues of Creating Hostile Work Environment Over His Obesity

A morbidly obese firefighter from Long Island has filed suit claiming his colleagues created a hostile work environment that violated federal and state disability discrimination laws. John Munro claims that the Hauppaugue Fire Department and the Hauppaugue Fire District violated the American with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law by failing to stop “brutal and persistent ridicule and harassment” related to his weight.

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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