Fire Law Roundup – January 31, 2022

In this episode, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling out of Colorado on Ketamine administration by paramedics, a First Amendment suit out of Georgia, a public records case out of KCMO connected to the 1988 LODD explosion that killed 6 Kansas City firefighters, a subrogation suit out of Utah, and the filing of a vaccine mandate challenge suit in San Diego, CA.

Among the topics discussed are the importance of good documentation, particularly when administering a drug like ketamine; the applicability of the First Amendment to work-related speech; the historical background on the 1988 Kansas City explosion that killed 6 KCMO firefighters; subrogation in a wildland fire scenario (my database has 26 subrogation suits out of 11,500 entries); and the COVID19 vaccine mandate claims in San Diego.

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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