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

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 20, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a whistleblower suit brought by a terminated LAFD chief; a suit by a New Mexico firefighter alleging discrimination and whistleblower retaliation; a Virginia court holding ...

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A former high-ranking civilian employee of the Los Angeles City Fire Department has filed suit claiming she was retaliated against and ultimately terminated for reporting misconduct by the department’s two highest-ranking chiefs. Jenny Park served the LAFD in a position known as Fire Administrator.

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A Bridgeport, Connecticut man is threatening to file suit against firefighters because they opened the glove box in his car in the aftermath of a vehicle accident. Tony Barr contends that firefighters violated his constitutional rights following the accident last weekend.

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The widow of a Norfolk Fire Department captain who died in 2019, has lost her appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals to have his death treated as a compensable occupational disease. Norma Hughes appealed the ruling of the Virginia Workers' Comp Commission concluding that the medical evidence did not establish that Captain David Hughes died of lung cancer.

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A former fire chief is facing criminal charges for having forged his credentials to operate the fire department’s drone. Michael J. Leonelli was arrested by New York State Police following an investigation that included the FAA and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation.

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A New Mexico firefighter who was terminated last year has filed suit alleging gender discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. Deidre Maurino filed suit against Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue, the fire chief, the Human Resource director, and two officers of the department.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 13, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a jury verdict that the city of Mobile did not wrongfully terminate or retaliate against a fire captain who was dismissed in 2022; the arrest ...

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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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