Former Sacramento Fire Chief Seeks $10 Million for Wrongful Termination

Posted by: Curt Varone September 13, 2022 0

The former fire chief in Sacramento is claiming that his termination earlier this year was the result of retaliation by the city’s mayor.  Gary Loesch claims that Mayor Howard Chan not only wrongfully terminated him on May 26, 2022, but intentionally exposed him to COVID in retaliation for having challenged earlier discipline.  He is seeking $10,000,000 in damages.

A copy of the complaint is not available, but will be posted here. News media reports about the filing are unclear about whether an actual lawsuit has been filed, or whether it was simply an administrative claim.

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.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Honolulu Facing Suit Over Fatal Ambulance Fire

The City of Honolulu is facing a lawsuit by the family of a 91-year-old man who burned to death in an ambulance during transport. Fred Kaneshiro died in the August 24, 2022 explosion and fire that investigators concluded was related to a faulty oxygen regulator.

Firing of Flint Fire Chief Could Be a First Amendment Violation

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a mayor who retaliates against a fire chief for refusing to make false statements to the public about a matter of public concern, is not entitled to qualified immunity. As a result, a mayor could be liable to the chief for violating his First Amendment rights.