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

A former fire chief and his son have pled nolo to charges involving the misuse of department funds. Thomas Perry, 53 the former fire chief of the Chapmanville Fire Department, and his son, Cody, 35, were indicted last year on embezzlement, conspiracy, and fraudulent schemes charges.

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The 3rd Circuit has refused to block a Pennsylvania township from eliminating one of its two volunteer fire companies. The Sassamansville Fire Co. No. 1 brought the action after New Hanover Township voted to eliminate it, claiming a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 6, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a suit filed by DC firefighter-EMTs alleging the city reneged on pension-related promises; a lawsuit against Houston firefighters over their role in the death of ...

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Five dual function EMT-firefighters with the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services have filed a class action lawsuit alleging that the city has reneged on pension-related promises. The complaint seeks to require the city to comply with its contractual and statutory pension obligations, as well alleging the city was motivated in denying them their benefits due to their race and gender.

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A mother whose son died after being tased and arrested by Houston police, has filed suit against the city, the officers involved in the apprehension, and five city firefighters. Meghan Sonnier Simms, the mother of Jermaine K. Sonnier, filed suit yesterday in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

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A Florida fire chief who resigned last December as part of a mass resignation, has filed suit against the fire district under the Fair Labor Standard Act claiming he was improperly designated as an exempt executive. Chief Jason Martin claims the Upper Captiva Fire Protection & Rescue Services District owes him overtime for all the hours he worked beyond 53 hours per week.

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A Texas firefighter has filed suit claiming he was retaliated against for cooperating with a sexual harassment investigation into the fire chief. Aaron Ford filed suit today naming the Klein Volunteer Fire Department and Harris County Emergency Services District #16 as defendants.

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A Pennsylvania fire chief is facing obstruction of justice charges for failing to report allegations that his deputy chief sexually abused a junior firefighter. Fire Chief Thomas Weber of the Folcroft Fire Department has been charged with failing to report suspected child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, and obstructing an investigation.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 29, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a St. Louis firefighter accused of using a credit card that belongs to the victim of a vehicular accident; the former fire chief of Denton ...

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A St. Louis firefighter has been accused of using a credit card that belongs to the victim of a vehicular accident he responded to earlier this year. Arnold Britt has been charged with one count of receiving stolen property and one count of fraudulent use of a credit or debit device.

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The former fire chief of Denton County Emergency Services District 1 has pled guilty to 13 counts of stealing. Troy Mac Hohenberger was accused of stealing more than $490,000 from the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department.

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A Rochester firefighter who was required to attend a racist party while on duty in 2022, has filed suit alleging race discrimination. Jerrod Jones, a 14-year veteran, filed suit in US District Court for the Western District of New York naming the city and his captain as defendants.

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A South Carolina man who is facing homicide charges has filed a rather unconventional civil rights lawsuit against first responders: he is claiming he is the victim of their failure to provide adequate medical care to the victim. Thomas Reginald Brooks filed suit pro se against nineteen defendants, including Sumter County EMS, the Sumter Police Department, and the Sumter Fire Department.

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An assistant chief with a Minnesota fire department who was fired earlier this year has filed suit claiming his removal was retaliation for a protected whistleblower report he made. Shea Chwialkowski served as the Assistant Chief of Training & Operations for the Richfield Fire Department until he was terminated on March 29, 2023.

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