Jury Awards $1.4 Million in Charlotte Retaliation Case

Posted by: Curt Varone May 11, 2017 2 Comments

A former arson investigator for the Charlotte Fire Department was awarded $1.4 million today in a whistleblower lawsuit against the City of Charlotte. Crystal Eschert, a former arson investigator for the city was fired after she voiced safety concerns over a new fire department building. The City had claimed Eschert was fired for posting inappropriate Facebook posts.

Bill Maccarone

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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