FMLA

Today’s burning question: I heard a rumor that there are some new overtime rules coming out soon. Will these new rules have an impact on fire departments? Answer: That is a great question, and one I get asked a lot these days.

Read More »

Today’s burning question: My fire department has a sick leave policy that states "Members of the Department on sick leave, when not hospitalized, are expected to remain at home, unless authorized by a physician for light duty." There are exceptions for medical care, prescriptions, etc. Is this a legal and supportable policy?

Read More »

Today’s burning question: I am a firefighter and I was seriously hurt while off duty. While recuperating, the city stopped my health care even though I had not exhausted all of my paid sick leave. Can they do that? Answer: According to the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia, they can!

Read More »

Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services 730 Pages/Softcover/August 2014 ISBN: 978-1-59370-347-9 Price: $89.00 The third edition of J. Curtis Varone’s Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services is an essential textbook for any course on fire service law as ...

Read More »

A civilian analyst with the Charlotte Fire Department has filed suit claiming the department retaliated against her in violation of the Family Medical Leave Act. Rachel Pillar filed the action earlier this year in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, but the ...

Read More »

A Vallejo, California firefighter who suffered second and third degree burns while trying to save a victim’s life has filed suit following his dismissal in November 2012 alleging the city illegally retaliated against him. Todd Milan filed the suit against ...

Read More »

A paramedic for Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corp. (MONOC) has lost a federal court lawsuit that alleged her employer illegally accessed and used a Facebook post to discipline her. Deborah Ehling worked for MONOC since 2004. In June, 2009, in the ...

Read More »

A pregnant Bridgeport, Connecticut firefighter whose light duty assignment reached the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement has been placed on unpaid and unrequested maternity leave. Firefighter Regina Scates and her attorney, former mayor Thomas Bucci, are threatening suit ...

Read More »

The 6th Circuit handed down a ruling last week holding that volunteer firefighters who receive hourly compensation of $15 are employees for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FLMA). The ruling arose in ...

Read More »

A Cobb County firefighter has filed suit against her department alleging sexual harassment, sex discrimination, pregnancy discrimination and FMLA violations. Firefighter Alison Carroll has worked for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services since 2008. She claims she was constructively discharged ...

Read More »

Today’s burning question: I am an EMT and hurt my wrist on the job in 1997. In 2001 after two surgeries I needed an accommodation and asked to be assigned to a job “that would not require large volume typing, ...

Read More »

Was it sick leave abuse or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) discrimination that blocked a firefighter’s promotion last year? That is the question that is now before a Federal District Court in Massachusetts. Watertown firefighter Scott Carton claims he was ...

Read More »