Illinois Fire Department Sues For Damages in Fatal Highway Accident

An Illinois fire department has filed suit against the driver and the owners of a tractor-trailer that slammed into a fire truck on I39 in 2013 killing one firefighter and injuring six.

The Hudson Community Fire Protection District filed suit against the driver, Mansur Shakirov, as well as Move It Transport Inc., Auto Trans Experts Inc., and Auto Transportation Experts Inc. seeking compensation for $158,610 in property damages. The accident occurred on March 5, 2013 while crews were at the scene of a prior multi-vehicle accident and claimed the life of FF Chris Brown.

Shakirov was convicted by a jury of reckless homicide in 2014, and sentenced to serve four years in prison. The fire department’s suit is the third to arise out of the accident. Another firefighter who was injured in the crash, Tyler Cobler, filed suit in federal court against Shakirov, Move It Transport Inc., Auto Trans Experts Inc., and Auto Transportation Experts Inc. back in 2013.

In 2014, Amie Brown, Chris Brown’s widow, filed suit against the same parties.

Here is more on the fire department’s lawsuit.

A copy of the complaint was not available, but here is a copy of FF Cobler for those interested in additional details about the accident. Complaint

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
x

Check Also

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.

Dispatcher Sues Florida Fire Department Alleging Discrimination

A dispatcher with a Florida fire department has filed suit alleging she was forced to resign in 2023 due to a racially hostile work place and retaliation. Navida Perry filed suit against the South Walton Fire Department, Inc.