Voters to Consider Settlement of Connecticut Fire Chief’s lawsuit

The settlement of a federal court lawsuit brought by a former fire chief claiming disability discrimination is now in the hands of taxpayers who will vote to approve or reject the settlement next week at a special fire district meeting.

Former Thompsonville Fire District Fire Chief Frank Alaimo filed suit last year claiming he was the victim of disability discrimination, failure to pay wages, and false light invasion of privacy following his suspension for arriving late at a fatal fire in 2014. Here is more on that part of the story.

The parties have reached a settlement in the case that calls for Chief Alaimo to receive $15,000 per year over the next 10 fiscal years to settle his claims. In order for that settlement to become final, it must be approved by the voters of the Thompsonville Fire District.

The meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 4, 2016. Should the voters reject the settlement, the case will proceed towards trial.

More on the story.

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.
x

Check Also

Suit Against FD Alleges False Arrest and Conspiracy

A lawsuit accusing a volunteer fire department, two firefighters, three police officers, and two law enforcement agencies with assault, battery, false arrest, conspiracy, and a host of civil rights violations, has been removed to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Steven Makowsky filed suit earlier this year in Nassau County Supreme Court.

KCMO Challenges Arbitration Award in Triple Fatal Crash

The City of Kansas City is appealing an arbitration decision that reduced the disciplinary penalty for the firefighter responsible for the 2021 triple-fatal apparatus crash to a three-day suspension without pay. Dominic Biscari was driving Kansas City’s Pumper 19, when it ran a red light, collided with an SUV, struck several parked cars, came to rest in a building, and in the process killed three people.