Dispatch & Communications

Dispatch Error Leads to Wrongful Death Suit in Illinois

The family of a woman who died last summer when an ambulance was dispatched to the wrong address, has filed suit against the dispatch center and an Illinois fire department. Laurelyn Wagner-Pitts, 60, suffered a cardiac arrest on July 30, ...

Iowa City Files Public Records Suits Over Dispatch Center

A dispute in Iowa over a county dispatch center has led to two public records suits being filed by the City of Keokuk. One of the suits names the Lee County Fire Chiefs Association and its president, Neil Gathers, while the other names the City of West Point and its leadership.

Bridgeport Facing Multi-Million Dollar Claim Over Lack of MSDS for Fire

The City of Bridgeport, Connecticut is facing a multi-million dollar claim by the owner of a warehouse that burned in 2014. The owner claims the fire department made the chemical fire worse by applying water, all because firefighters lacked access to MSDS information.

Virginia Firefighters Suspended For Transporting Toddler on Engine Reinstated

The two Stafford County, Virginia firefighters who were suspended for having transported an 18-month old child to the hospital on an engine company, have been reinstated. Captain James Kelley and Sergeant Virgil Bloom were reinstated yesterday as of 4 p.m.

Michigan City Sues Township Over Fire EMS Response Across The Street

Today’s burning question: There is a township fire station directly across the street from my property, but because the property is physically in the city, the township says they cannot respond. Shouldn’t the closest fire department to an emergency respond?

Illinois Abandons Public Duty Doctrine in Fire Department Case

In a split decision in a case involving a fire department, the Illinois Supreme court has taken the drastic step of abolishing the public duty doctrine in Illinois. The case involved a 911 call for a medical emergency that, for a variety of Murphy’s Law-type reasons, resulted in a 41-minute delay in accessing the patient

Wrongful Death Suit Filed Over Misrouted 911 Call in California

A 911 call that was somehow misrouted to Canada resulting in a delayed response to a child who collapsed, is now the focus of a wrongful death suit brought by the child’s parents. Jose Beltran, 13, collapsed during a gym class on January 26, 2015

Patterson Settles Retaliation Suit With Dispatcher For $80k

A New Jersey dispatcher who sued the Patterson Fire Department in federal court over harassment he sustained after reporting misconduct by two firefighters has received an $80,000 settlement. Robert Connizzo claimed that co-workers harassed, assaulted, and retaliated against him for informing superior officers about a conversation he overheard on a recorded line.

Albuquerque Fire Investigating Why Dispatcher Hung Up on Caller

The Albuquerque Fire Department is investigating a firefighter who allegedly hung-up on a frantic 911 caller because the caller swore at him while CPR instructions were being given. Albuquerque firefighter Matthew Sanchez was working in the dispatch center when a caller reported that Jaydon Chavez-Silver, a 17 year old high school student, had been shot.

NY Town Sues Fire District Over Cell Tower

A fire district in New York is being sued by a town and a group of residents over the construction of a 150 foot cellphone tower on property at a fire station. The town of Warwick and several residents have filed suit to block construction of a proposed tower by the Pine Island Fire District

County Dispatch Center Sued Over Fire Death

A fatal fire in Madison, Wisconsin in 2013 has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against a county dispatch center that allegedly took nearly four minutes to dispatch the call. The family of Chris Williams filed suit last week claiming that Dane County and its 911 center bear responsibility for his death on October 16, 2013.

Cancellation of Paramedic Unit Prompts California Suit for Wrongful Death

The family of a man who died in 2013 has filed suit against a California fire department, a fire chief and others who the family claims are to blame for the man's death. The complaint includes allegations that a Yermo Fire Department captain cancelled a responding ALS ambulance long before he arrived on scene because he believed the patient was a “constant complainer” ...

Baltimore Settles ADA Claim With Justice Department

The City of Baltimore has settled a case brought by the United States Department of Justice challenging hiring practices that the DOJ claims discriminate against people with disabilities. The suit was brought on behalf of a woman who was given ...

Dispatchers Suspended Following Fatal Pennsylvania Fire

Two Luzerne County dispatchers have been suspended without pay as an investigation continues into a fatal fire last week in in Mocanaqua. Concerns have been raised about the way the fire was dispatched. According to Mocanaqua Volunteer Fire Chief Stephen ...

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