Discrimination

A San Francisco firefighter who claims he was assaulted by a colleague while both were off-duty, has filed suit against the other firefighter, the city, the fire chief, two other chief officers, and two company officers. Gabriel Shin filed suit earlier this year alleging battery, assault, race discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation and several related counts.

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A battalion chief with the Sacramento Fire Department has filed suit alleging race discrimination and retaliation. Jonathan Burgess filed suit in Sacramento County Superior Court alleging three violations of the California Government Code.

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The dismissal of a Florida battalion chief has been upheld by a US District Court. BC William Valencia claims he was terminated by the Haines City Fire Department in retaliation for having sought workers comp for an injury, and that he was the victim of disability discrimination.

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A US District Court judge has granted judgment to the City of Jacksonville, dismissing a lawsuit filed by thirty African American firefighters who claimed that the city’s requirement that they be clean-shaven was discriminatory. The firefighters filed suit in 2020 alleging the city’s refusal to grant them a continuing accommodation to have closely cropped shadow beards constituted disability and race discrimination.

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A 20-year veteran Kansas City, Kansas firefighter has filed suit claiming he was the victim of race discrimination and retaliation. Leejamahl A. Washington alleges he was subjected to racial hostilities throughout much of his career, but conditions worsened after he testified in support of Jyan Harris. Harris won a $2.3 million case in 2021.

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An administrative services manager for the Rochester (MN) Fire Department has filed suit alleging age discrimination. Curtis Pronk filed suit last month claiming he was forced to resign effective August 31, 2021 to avoid his position being downgraded to a lower paying position.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 30, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a race discrimination lawsuit filed by a paid-on-call lieutenant in Michigan; a ruling by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division that four fire departments ...

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A paid-on-call lieutenant in Michigan has filed suit claiming his fire department discriminated against him on account of his race. Lieutenant Gary Reid alleges that the Farmington Hills Fire Department changed the requirements for promotion and transferred him to prevent him from promoting.

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An EMT with FDNY has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit claiming a high-ranking chief pursued her, and then retaliated against her when she reported his harassment. Gina Bellido filed suit against FDNY and EMS Deputy Assistant Chief Roberto Colon in US District Court.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 23, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who suffered a stroke, but was mistaken for being under the influence; a discrimination lawsuit filed ...

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 9, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling out of Montgomery, Alabama upholding the resignation of a chief officer who claims be was constructively discharged; a claim my a Mobile firefighter ...

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A Mobile firefighter who claims she was told to grow her hair to cover a tattoo on her head, was nevertheless terminated after a complaint was filed over her hair. Kay’Ana Adams was fired by the Mobile Fire Department late last year.

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The settlement of race discrimination lawsuit brought by the former fire chief in Plainfield, New Jersey brings to a close a tumultuous few years for the city and its fire department. Fire Chief Frank Tidwell was suing the city and several local officials accusing them of a conspiracy to replace him with a white deputy chief.

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A volunteer firefighter in Colorado has filed suit claiming she was not hired for a paid position because of gender and age discrimination. Cynthia Winner filed suit against the Jefferson-Como Fire Protection District, its fire chief and a deputy chief.

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