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

A Cincinnati, Ohio firefighter is facing firearms-related charges for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident last month in Colerain Township. Firefighter Mack Ogletree was taken into custody yesterday as he reported for duty at a city firehouse.

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An Aurora firefighter-paramedic who was convicted of assault and negligent homicide in the death Elijah McClain, has been freed after the trial judge agreed to reduce his sentence. Peter Cichuniec, 51, had been incarcerated in the Sterling Correctional Facility, serving a five-year prison sentence.

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Two former chief officers with FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention have been indicted on charges of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and lying to federal investigators. Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco were arrested today following the unsealing of their indictment.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 16, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the $16 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by 11 Jacksonville firefighters injured in an explosion and fire on a ship; the $7.2 million settlement ...

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Eleven Jacksonville firefighters injured in a shipboard explosion and fire in 2020, have reached a $16 million settlement of their lawsuit against the ship’s owners and several other parties. The suit was originally filed in Duval County Circuit Court, and removed to the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

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The family of a Los Angeles County firefighter who was shot and killed by a disgruntled colleague in 2021, will receive a settlement of $7.2 million. Tory Carlon was shot and killed by firefighter Jonathan Patrick Tatone at LA County Station 81 on June 1, 2021.

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Two former Niceville fire officers have filed suit alleging they were wrongfully terminated and were retaliated against in violation of their First and Fourteenth amendment rights. Lieutenant Timothy Sallee and Battalion Chief Shawn Curry filed suit in US District Court ...

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An assistant chief with the Los Angeles County Fire Department has filed suit claiming he was passed over for promotion due to reverse discrimination. Assistant Chief Frank Forman filed suit today in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

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Two former employees of a volunteer fire company in North Carolina have filed suit alleging they were not paid overtime in accordance with the FLSA, and one claimed he was terminated for complaining about it. Akash Patel and Aaron Garbus filed suit naming the Robinson Volunteer Fire Department and its fire chief as defendants.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 9, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a sexual harassment concern being raised in the Queensland Fire Department; the settlement of a lawsuit in St. Paul over the non-transport of a man ...

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Sexual harassment allegations have resurfaced in the Queensland Fire Department, where more than a decade ago the same issues led to the appointment of a female police officer to serve as Fire Commissioner.

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The City of St. Paul has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a man who suffered a stroke in 2022, but was not transported to the hospital because the hospitals were reportedly full. The man, Ahmed Ali, was in his 80s and suffered permanent injuries as a result of him not being transported immediately.

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Three Georgia taxpayers have filed a class action lawsuit challenging the way that Walker County is funding its fire and emergency services. Michael Biddle, Jessica Allison, and Waylon Allison filed suit claiming that the public safety fee they pay on property they own in Walker County is an illegally imposed tax.

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A Lexington, Kentucky fire lieutenant has been suspended for 120 hours for making a series of comments about one of his female subordinates. Lt. Terrance Gatewood is accused of having made the comments about her appearance between February and March of 2023.

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