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

An Alabama jury has found that the city of Mobile did not wrongfully terminate or retaliate against a fire captain who was dismissed in 2022. Captain Rodrick Shoots was terminated and another captain, Jason Craig, was disciplined following the termination ...

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A Tennessee firefighter is facing criminal charges that he used emergency lights and flashed his badge during a road rage incident several weeks ago. Henry Riegger, 22, has been charged by the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office with criminal impersonation, reckless driving, and violation of emergency light law.

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The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court has overturned the denial of an accidental disability pension to a firefighter, and sent the matter back to the state’s Public Employees' Retirement System for further consideration. Louis T. Madden suffered a career ending injury while at the scene of a fire on December 6, 2019.

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A San Francisco firefighter injured in 2009, has filed suit claiming the city’s racist practices and negligence led to his catastrophic injuries. Michael Estrada filed suit today pro se in US District Court for the Northern District of California alleging civil rights violations under 42 USC §1983, gross negligence, race discrimination.

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The widow of a New Bedford deputy chief who has shot and killed by police officers, has filed suit claiming the psychotic break that precipitated the shooting was the result of two years of abuse and humiliation orchestrated by the city’s mayor. Jane Coderre filed suit in Bristol County Superior Court alleging conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and defamation.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 6, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss the arrest of a New York volunteer for calling in false alarms; an FLSA overtime lawsuit filed against a North Carolina fire department; the enactment ...

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A New York volunteer firefighter is facing five felony charges related to calling in false alarms to 911. Cyril Uebbing, 23, was arrested by New York State Police following an investigation requested by the fire chief of the Hillside Fire Department.

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Three North Carolina firefighters with the East Lincoln Fire Department, Inc. have filed a class action lawsuit claiming the fire department failed to pay them overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Adam Gant, Dale Bogle, and Brandon Auten filed suit in US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

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Here is our annual review of the top Fire Law Stories of 2024. Brad’s 5. North Carolina Medic Who Failed Drug Test Alleges it was Lawfully Prescribed Meds 4. Tennessee Captain Loses Alcoholism-PTSD Disability Claim 3. Court Holds FDNY Not ...

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Move Over “Move Over” laws – there is a new approach to protecting first responders. The State of Florida has enacted a new law termed the “Halo Law.” While move over laws are aimed at protecting first responders on the roadways, the Halo Law applies anywhere that first responders are actively performing their duties by creating a 25-foot buffer zone to allow them to carry on their duties.

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A group of seventeen citizens from Wading River, New York have filed suit against several parties including the Town of Riverhead and the Wading River Fire District alleging a conspiracy to deprive them of their civil rights by pushing through a cell tower project without providing affected neighbors notice and the right to be heard.

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An appellate court in California has reversed a trial court decision that dismissed an age discrimination lawsuit brought by an El Segundo fire captain. Captain Scott Martinez accused the City and Fire Chief Chris Donovan of refusing to promote him to battalion chief due to his age and because he reported certain improprieties.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 30, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a fire officer in Texas who claims he was passed over for promotion to assistant fire chief in 2023, and then retaliated against for complaining about age discrimination; the dismissal of a federal lawsuit against

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A lawsuit brought by the families of three Baltimore firefighters who died in a 2022 building fire has been dismissed. The January 24, 2022 fire claimed the lives of Lieutenant Paul Butrim, FF Kenneth Lacayo, and FF Kelsey Sadler, and seriously injured FF John McMaster.

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