Muncie Captain Sues Claiming He Was Improperly Denied Promotion

The Muncie, Indiana fire captain at the center of a testing scandal has filed suit claiming he was wrongfully passed over for promotion to battalion chief. Captain Troy Dulaney filed suit naming the City of Muncie, the Muncie Fire Department, the Muncie Merit Commission, the current fire chief and the former fire chief as defendants.

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Louisville Revisiting Policies on Driver License Checks

A Louisville firefighter who is facing charges of driving without a license has prompted the department to revisit its policies on driver’s license checks. Ramiro Rodriguez is facing a number of charges including driving without a license, stemming from an incident last month.

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Fire Law Roundup for February 10, 2025

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for February 10, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a jury verdict awarding a former Nashville fire captain $1.8 million; the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a Washington firefighter alleging race discrimination; a ...

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Demoted Nashville Captain Awarded $1.8 Million

A former Nashville fire captain who was demoted over social media posts, has been awarded $1.8 million in damages by a federal court jury for violation of his First Amendment rights. Captain Tracy Turner claimed he was investigated and demoted because his posts “offended someone in the African American Community.”

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Washington State Recruit Noose Case Dismissed

A lawsuit filed by an African American recruit firefighter in Washington state who had a noose placed around his neck by a fellow recruit, has been voluntarily dismissed. Elijah Page filed the action in federal court back in 2023 against the Clark County Fire District 6, three chief officers, a captain and former recruit John Erickson.

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NY Court Rules FD Violated Lieutenant’s Rights

A Suffolk County, New York judge has ruled that the Stony Brook Fire District improperly suspended a volunteer fire lieutenant, and in doing so violated his statutory right to due process. Thomas J. Killeen filed suit under a NY law that allows aggrieved persons to challenge acts or omissions of a governmental entity, an action known as an Article 78 proceeding.

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Fire Law Roundup for February 3, 2025

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for February 3, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a former NH fire chief alleging defamation; an appellate decision sending DC’s no-beard rule case back to district court; a magistrate’s ...

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NH Chief Alleges Defamation and Conspiracy

A New Hampshire fire chief who was terminated in 2023, has filed suit against two firefighters who accused him of making racist remarks. Former Nottingham Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock filed suit against Francis Bruno, Vash Rosfield, and the Town of Nottingham.

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Appellate Court Sends DC No Beard Rule Case Back to District Court

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has overturned a decision by a district court that refused to find the District of Columbia Fire Department in contempt for instituting a no beard rule. The procedural history of the case is complicated, and the court did not rule on the merits of the case.

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Magistrate Rules Baltimore Discrimination Suit Should be Dismissed

A US District Court Magistrate Judge has ruled that a race discrimination suit filed by a lieutenant with the Baltimore City Fire Department ought to be dismissed. Lt. Mitchell Waters filed suit in 2023 alleging he was targeted by white officers in the department after he had a “verbal exchange” with a female Baltimore County paramedic whose husband is a city fire officer.

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NJ Appellate Division Rules Firefighters Can Sue to Challenge CBA

The Appellate Division of New Jersey Superior Court has ruled that two Paterson firefighters who claim that the city’s method of calculating overtime violates state wage and hour laws, are entitled to have their case heard in court, despite the fact that the city uses a method prescribed by the collective bargaining agreement, and despite the CBA’s arbitration provision.

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