Happy New Year – Good Riddance to 2020 and Welcome 2021!!!

As 2020 FINALLY comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on the top headlines from Fire Law Blog over the past year. First, let’s look at the most popular stories based upon readers’ interest.

Here are the Top 10 most popular headlines from 2020 based on data from Facebook:

1. Court Rules FDNY Must Accommodate Facial Hair Despite OSHA
2. Washington State Supreme Court Allows Staffing Decision to Stand
3. California Court Dismisses Firefighter’s Suit Concluding Public Employment is Not Based On Contract
4. Coronavirus SARs-CoV-2 to be Added to Ryan White Act Disease Notification Requirements
5. LA Court Rules Firefighters Cannot be Ordered to Work in Higher Rank
6. Judge Tosses Wilmington LODD Suit
7. SC Firefighter Terminated Over Facebook Posts
8. Tennessee Court Upholds Verdict Against Officers Who Recorded Members
9. Tacoma Fined and Ordered to Train Department Heads in Public Records Compliance
10. Heart Attack Victim Sues Fire Department Over Refusal to Transport

Here are the Top 10 based on data from Twitter:

1. Oakland Settles Claims from Ghost Ship Fire for $32.7 Million
2. Firefighter Social Media Toll Continues to Rise
3. Federal Appeals Court Refuses To Block FDNY Enforcement of AirBNB Law
4. $50 Million Suit Filed in Michigan Mistaken Death Pronouncement
5. Minnesota City Settles Maternity Discrimination Suit for $50k
6. Burning Question: Limiting Off-Duty Work Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic
7. California EMTs Sue For COVID19-Safety Related Termination
8. Kentucky Truck Driver Sues Arizona Fire Department in Kentucky
9. Coronavirus SARs-CoV-2 to be Added to Ryan White Act Disease Notification Requirements
10. Georgia Firefighter Arrested For Hiding Bathroom Cam in Women’s Bathroom in Firehouse

And here’s just a couple of my personal top 10s for 2020:

YCMTSU

1. Utica Firefighter Loses Appeal of Termination – and Utica Prevails in Appeal By Firefighter Terminated for Sexual Misconduct
2. $50 Million Suit Filed in Michigan Mistaken Death Pronouncement
3. FDNY Settles Reality TV Star Sexual Harassment Suit for $350k
4. Bellingham Intubation Training Suit Settled for $175k
5. Georgia Firefighter Arrested For Hiding Bathroom Cam in Women’s Bathroom in Firehouse
6. Las Vegas Revenge Porn Suit Settled for $280k
7. Texas Firefighter Charged In Connection With Death of Colleague
8. Former Firefighter Arrested for Burglarizing Former Firehouse
9. Nyotaimori: Is it Respecting Japanese Culture or Sexually Inappropriate Conduct
10. Ride-Along Student Sues Claiming He Was Groped By Chicago Firefighter

Settlements

1. Oakland Settles Claims from Ghost Ship Fire for $32.7 Million
2. Firefighter and Utilities Settle Burn Injury case for $5 Million
3. Trenton Settles Suit with Fire Captain for $1.8 Million
4. UConn Settles Wrongful Death Suit with Family of Student Run-Over By Fire Apparatus for $1 Million
5. Minneapolis Settles Sneaker Discrimination Suit for $785k
6. Las Vegas Settles FLSA Claim for $560k
7. Nebraska City Settles Second of Three Harassment Suits for $500k
8. FDNY Settles Reality TV Star Sexual Harassment Suit for $350k
9. Las Vegas Revenge Porn Suit Settled for $280k
10. Houston Settles Sexual Harassment Suit for $275k

Criminal

1. Nova Scotia OHS Division Files Charges Against Fire School Over LODD
2. Mississippi EMT Charged with Driving Ambulance Under the Influence
3. Hong Kong Firefighter Charged in Fatal Apparatus Accident
4. Vermont Firefighter Charged With Assault, Resigns
5. $373k Pink Collar Theft from Virginia Fire Company
6. Grand Jury Indicts California Fire Chief for Manslaughter
7. FDNY Firefighter Caught on Video Stealing Bed Cover From Pickup
8. Pennsylvania Chief Charged With Stealing $84k From Fire Department
9. Kentucky Firefighter Charged With Sexual Abuse of Colleague
10. Wyoming Fire Chief and Wife Charged With Stealing From Fire Department

Happy New Year to the Fire Law Community!!!