Tag Archives: Providence Fire Department

An EMS lieutenant with the Providence Fire Department who was awarded $889,842 in 2016 over sexual harassment and retaliation claims, has filed suit against the city again claiming the decision by the City Retirement Board to deny her request for accidental disability benefits constitutes illegal discrimination.

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Two New England cities are in the Fire Law news with settlements of sexual harassment claims resulting in large payouts to female firefighters. In Boston, attorneys for former firefighter Nathalie Fontanez announced that she has accepted a $3.2 million settlement of her sexual harassment and retaliation claims.

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Some folks just can’t seem to keep themselves out of the headlines. For instance, take FDNY’s Joseph Cassano, who was suspended yesterday after he was cited for trespassing on the Jersey Shore. Cassano, the son of former Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano, has been in the Fire Law Blog news at least six times prior to today.

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Its been one of those busy fire law days, and with too many stories and too little time, we will be looking strictly at the headlines: RI (3 stories); IL, FL, NY and NJ.

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The City of Providence has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a Hispanic firefighter who claims he was discriminated against. Renato Alarcon filed suit in 2015 claiming that his treatment in Engine 10 was discriminatory and led to ...

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A Providence firefighter who was suspended following his arrest on child solicitation charges, is suing the city for violating his due process rights. Jason August was arrested in 2015 following a six month investigation.

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The Providence Fire Department is facing another federal court lawsuit by a female officer alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. Rescue Captain Danielle Masse claims she was harassed by coworkers and ultimately disciplined by the department on account of her gender, her sexual orientation, and in retaliation for testifying for another female officer.

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The Rhode Island Supreme Court has reversed a decision by the City of Providence’s Retirement Board that denied a disability pension to Rescue Captain Michael Morse. Mike, who is a well known author and blogger, injured his back in 2012 while lifting a patient.

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In the aftermath of an $800,000 jury verdict against the city of Providence for sexual harassment, WJAR TV10 reporter Katie Davis did an in depth investigative piece on the recent case, comparing it to an earlier case of sexual harassment that occurred 17 years earlier.

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A federal jury took just four hours to award a former Providence Fire Department rescue officer $800,000 in damages for sexual harassment and retaliation. Lori Franchina filed suit in 2012 claiming she had been subjected to numerous instances of harassment, including incidents where co-workers refused to assist her at emergency scenes.

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A ten-year legal battle over the assignment of an engine company to participate in an annual gay-pride parade in Providence, Rhode Island has come to a close with the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling in favor of the fire department...

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A Providence firefighter is under investigation for a gesture he allegedly made while on-duty during a protest held in front of Providence Fire Department Headquarters. The protest followed the decision of a Missouri grand jury not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown.

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The Rhode Island Supreme Court heard the appeal of the City of Providence today in the decade long lawsuit arising out of the 2001 Gay Pride Parade. Two Providence firefighters ordered to participate in the parade filed suit claiming a violation of their First Amendment Rights and that during the course of the parade they were sexually harassed.

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There are two stories in the fire law news today that – beyond grabbing headlines – give me pause to discuss because there does not seem to be enough detail to go much beyond media reports. Both cases are bound ...

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