Wisconsin City Settles Severance Suit With Former Fire Chief

The City of Sheboygan has agreed to settle a suit by former Fire Chief Jeff Hermann over payment for accrued sick and vacation leave. The suit was filed after the city refused to pay Chief Hermann roughly $37,000 in accrued leave when he retired in 2014.

The city claimed it changed its policy about allowing employees to carry accrued leave forward from year to year, a change Chief Hermann said could not be applied to him because he was vested.

On Monday, the city council voted to settle the lawsuit for $25,000. According to the SheboyganPress.com, the settlement was a product of pressure from Judge Rebecca Persick to settle the matter after she denied cross motions for summary judgment.

More on the story.

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.
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