Top Ten Fire Law Stories for 2018

It’s January 1, 2019 and that means it is time for our annual review of the top Fire Law stories from 2018.

Let’s start with the 10 most popular headlines based upon Facebook shares and likes:

• 10. Burning Question: Are Kelly Days Supposed to be Paid or Unpaid Days Off
• 9. Burning Question About Bully Bosses and Insubordination
• 8. Burning Question: Searching Cars and the Fourth Amendment
• 7. Are Battalion Chiefs Subject to The Highly Compensated Employee Exemption
• 6. Twenty Illinois Fire Departments Sued for Wrongful Death
• 5. Wyoming Supreme Court Rules Firefighter Unions Must Include Volunteer Firefighters
• 4. Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to False Alarm Fee Ordinance
• 3. Fired Toledo Recruit Claims Instructors Taught Him Wrong Way Because of His Race
• 2. Fatal Fire Prompts Suit Against Illinois Fire Department
• 1. Fire College Employees Sue AFFF Manufacturers For $35 Million

Here are my top 10 stories:

• 10. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Strong Cancer Presumption in Firefighters
• 9. Two Akron Firefighters Investigated for Making Firehouse Porn YCMTSU
• 8. Chicago Fire Settles Pregnancy and Nursing Mothers Lawsuit
• 7. Fine Against Washington Fire Department For Understaffing Upheld
• 6. Illinois Judge Orders Sanctions Against Fire Department in Sexual Harassment Case
• 5. Supreme Court Rules that Age Discrimination Law Applies to All State and Local Agencies
• 4. Washington Firefighters Lose Jobs Over Intubation Training on Deceased Patient
• 3. Illinois City Ordered to Pay $11 Million For Sexual Harassment of Female Firefighter
• 2. Supreme Court Strikes Down Agency Fees for Public Sector Unions
• 1. Atlanta Settles With Chief Cochran for $1.2 Million

In terms of the top YCMTSU stories:

• 10. Sexual Explicit Gingerbread House Becomes Cornerstone Of Harassment Suit
• 9. Amsterdam Firefighters Believed To Be Behind Death Threats To Fire Chief
• 8. Florida Possum Festival Lawsuit Dismissed
• 7. Chicago Fire Investigates Medic for YCMTSU Lewd Behavior
• 6. Magistrate Recommends Dismissal Of Remaining Counts in Cap’n Nemo’s Case
• 5. Gender Reveal Explosion Video Released Following Arizona Wildland Plea
• 6. Revenge Porn Leads to Sexual Harassment Allegations in Las Vegas Fire
• 3. $15.5 Million in Damage Claims Filed In Bellingham Intubation Case
• 2. Detroit Firefighter Fired Over Watermelon Gift Suing For Discrimination
• 1. Two Akron Firefighters Investigated for Making Firehouse Porn YCMTSU

Here are the 10 biggest lawsuits that were filed:

• 10. Mother of Developmentally Disabled Woman Sues Portland Fire Bureau for $1 Million
• 9. Ohio Chief Sues Bosses for $1 Million
• 8. Louisiana Firefighter Files $1 Million Race Discrimination Suit
• 7. Injured Recruit Sues Nashville for $1.5 Million
• 6. NH Inn Owner Sues Town and Fire Chief for $2 million
• 5. Vermont Town Sues KME and Navistar for $2.5 Million over Fire Station Fire
• 4. Parents of Child Killed in Scottsdale Fire Station Accident File $9 Million Claim
• 3. Man Who Lost Wife and Daughters in Gatlinburg Fire Sues Park Service For $14 million
• 2. $15.5 Million in Damage Claims Filed In Bellingham Intubation Case
• 1. Fire College Employees Sue AFFF Manufacturers For $35 Million

There were many other lawsuits filed in 2018 that will likely be seeking much greater amounts than those listed above, but the complaints did not state the amounts being sought.

And finally here are the 10 biggest Awards/Settlements:

• 10. Connecticut Firefighter Settles Race Discrimination Claims for $290k
• 9. NJ City Settles Reverse Discrimination Suit for $450k
• 8. Oregon Chief Awarded $500k for Wrongful Termination
• 7. San Francisco Settles Sexual Harassment Suit for $575,000
• 6. NY Firefighter Father and Son Settle Suit With Fire Company for $900k
• 5. Atlanta Settles With Chief Cochran for $1.2 Million
• 4. Jury Awards LA Firefighter $2.75 Million For Retaliation
• 3. Ohio Firefighter Awarded $3.35 Million for Sexual Harassment
• 2. Jury Awards $4 Million to California Whistleblowing Fire Marshal
• 1. Illinois City Ordered to Pay $11 Million For Sexual Harassment of Female Firefighter

Many other large settlements were reached in 2018, but the amounts were not publicly released.