Fire Law Vlog Case Updates

Posted by: Curt Varone October 31, 2019 0

In this edition of Fire Law Vlog, we cover three recent Fire Law cases that passed under the radar: a patent violation suit against a volunteer fire department in Virginia; the arrest and release of a medic in Los Angeles County; and a suit by a Florida firefighter contesting his termination for cooking coconut and cannabis in the fire station.

  • A rather unusual patent infringement case against a volunteer fire department in Virginia: Gray Manufacturing v. Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department,
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Filed: October 29, 2019
2019 Gray v Ashburn VFDDownload
  • An LA County Medic, Roryce Dirden, was arrested and charged with assault of a patient over an incident that occurred in the back of a transporting ambulance in the presence of a police sergeant. Dirden was later released after police officials reviewed the sergeants body cam video and concluded Dirden did nothing wrong. Dirden is now speaking out about the incident. The incident occurred last August. Here is a link to more on the story.
  • In Florida, a Hillsborough County firefighter, Tavoris Allen, filed suit to get his job back after he was terminated for cooking coconut and cannabis last December in the firehouse. Allen claims he has a medical marijuana card and did not think he did anything wrong. Here is a link to that story. A copy of the complaint is posted below. It was filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court on October 21, 2019.
2019 ALLEN v HILLSBOROUGH COUNTYDownload

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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