Pennsylvania Firefighters Refile Hearing Loss Suits Against Federal Signal

Posted by: Curt Varone August 24, 2017 0

Seventy current and retired Pennsylvania firefighters filed suit this week in Lackawanna County (PA) Court against siren manufacturer Federal Signal Corporation claiming hearing loss from exposure to “loud, excessive and harmful noise levels.” The firefighters from Scranton, Dunmore and Wilkes-Barre filed a total of five lawsuits after similar suits they filed in Illinois were dismissed earlier this year.

The original suits were filed twelve years ago in Illinois because that is where Federal Signal is headquartered. Illinois courts ruled that the suits should have been filed where the hearing loss occurred, not where the siren manufacturer was headquartered. Plaintiffs were given six months to refile their suits.

The suits are similar to numerous other product liability type suits against Federal Signal that we have been following. 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.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

New Hampshire Firefighter Claims He Was Sexually Harassed

A New Hampshire firefighter who resigned last December after enduring what he claims was years of sexually harassing comments and retaliation is now suing his former employer. Christopher R. Golomb filed suit against the City of Concord last month in Merrimack County Superior Court.

Sacramento Settles Restraint Death Suit for $4.45 Million

The City of Sacramento has agreed to settle a wrongful death suit with the family of a man who died while being restrained during an EMS response, for $4.45 million. Reginald “Reggie” Payne, 48, suffered a cardic arrest while being restrained by police, who responded at the request of firefighters.