Fire Law Podcast

In this episode, Curt and Linda Willing discuss the cultural and legal challenges associated with hazing, pranks and bullying in the fire service. Linda is a retired fire officer from the Boulder Fire Department and a noted author, columnist and lecturer. She is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories.

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In this episode, Curt and attorney Brian Bregman discuss the complicated legal issues associated with disciplinary investigations where the accused firefighters are potentially subject to criminal liability – and may have a 5th Amendment Right to remain silent.

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In this episode, Curt discusses the recent acquittal of two Prince George’s County volunteer firefighters with Attorney Brian Bregman. Brian represented one of the firefighters accused of assaulting two female career firefighters at the scene of a structure fire in 2015.

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In this episode, Curt and attorney Matt Dolan discuss the leadership challenge of dealing with the toxic employee. Approximately 60 percent of fire service litigation involve HR-types of suits, and many of those lawsuits involve the 1% who make everyone’s lives more difficult: the toxic employee.

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In this episode Curt and retired Battalion Chief John Cagno discuss cyberbullying in the fire service. The discussion ranges from legal considerations to leadership responsibilities.

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Are fire officers eligible for overtime? Does rank matter? In this episode Curt and Bill Maccarone discuss overtime issues associated with fire officers. Many fire departments consider some or all of their officers to be exempt from the overtime requirements ...

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In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone continue their discussion about FLSA overtime issues in the fire service with an introduction to the so-called white-collar exemptions that allow employees classified as executives, administrative or professionals to be exempt from minimum wage and maximum hours requirements.

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In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone continue their discussion about overtime issues in the fire service with an overview of "regular rate". Regular rate refers to the amount of hourly compensation that must be multiplied by 1.5 to determine the overtime rate. While that may seem simple, its application is anything but.

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In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone continue their discussion about overtime issues in the fire service with an overview of the 207k partial exemption. The 207k, or 7k, exemption extends the maximum hours for firefighters from 40 to 53 ...

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In this episode, Curt and Bill Maccarone provide an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act. No other law impacts fire department operations nor costs local governments more than the FLSA. Since 1985 when the US Supreme Court decided Garcia ...

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In this episode of Fire Law, Curt and Florida firefighter-attorney Mike Clelland discuss Mike’s recent victory for an Orlando firefighter who was seeking a cancer-related disability pension. Mike, a 26 year fire service veteran and former state legislator, now practices with the law firm of Morgan & Morgan.

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In this episode of Fire Law, Curt interviews Ginger Adams Otis, the author of Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York's Bravest. Ginger is a writer for the NY Daily News and previously worked for the NY Post. She started covering NY City Hall and the FDNY when she worked for The Chief-Leader.

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In this edition of Fire Law, Curt discusses the controversial settlement of an FDNY discrimination suit with Attorney Peter J. Gleason, himself a retired FDNY firefighter. Peter represented FDNY firefighter Kevin Simpkins who was awarded a disability pension earlier this year. The settlement made for sensational headlines.

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In this episode, Curt explores the connection between the law relating to duty to act and real life in a discussion with Fire Commissioner Dave Phillips, of the Washingtonville Fire District, in New York State. Commissioner Phillips suffered a heart attack and was brought back to life thorough the valiant efforts of his son, an FDNY firefighter, and a local EMS unit.

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