Politics

Firefighters in Weirton, WV have filed suit against the city claiming the creation of a new public safety director is illegal and retaliation for the fire chief’s public statements about a staffing shortage. Fire Chief Jerry Shumate, who is subject to civil service protection, told the city council the fire department is understaffed

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Nine prospective firefighters who were offered jobs with the City of Englewood, New Jersey have filed suit claiming the last minute decision to withdraw the job offers constituted breach of contract and reverse discrimination. The candidates were given conditional job offers by the city, and completed all of the prerequisites to start the fire academy on April 15.

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An FDNY fire lieutenant who claims he was removed from serving in a color guard at an FDNY Vulcan Society event on account of his race, has filed a discrimination suit. Lt. Daniel McWilliams filed suit last Friday naming Vulcan Society President Regina Wilson, the Vulcan Society, the city and FDNY as defendants.

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The City of Howardwick, Texas has filed suit against the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department to prevent the fire department from placing the titles and registrations for its apparatus in the fire department’s name. The suit was filed last week in Donley County District Court.

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A Massachusetts fire chief who simultaneously served as a member of the town’s Board of Selectmen, is now suing the board and the other selectmen over his termination last February. Fire Chief Ernest J. Cardillo, Jr. filed suit last week in US District Court accusing the Town of Stockbridge and the selectmen with violating his civil rights under federal and state law.

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A Henrico County, Virginia firefighter who was arrested for rioting at Presidents Trump’s inauguration in 2017, and was later terminated for lying to investigators, has filed suit in federal court claiming the department violated her 1st Amendment Rights. Rosa Dianne Roncales was fired on April 5, 2017 for “discrepancies” she gave to fire department investigators relative to her involvement in the rioting and vandalism that occurred in Washington, DC on January 20, 2017.

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An attorney who is also running for mayor of San Diego filed suit yesterday on behalf of the last remaining volunteer fire company in San Diego County, seeking to block dissolution of the company by the county. Cory Briggs filed the suit in San Diego County Superior Court on behalf of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District against the County of San Diego...

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An Oakland captain is suing the city and Fire Chief Darren White claiming he was wrongly passed over for a promotion in the fire marshal’s office because his son was convicted of arson. Captain Howard Holt filed the suit last week alleging race discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and a host of state law claims.

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A Mount Vernon firefighter who served briefly as deputy fire commissioner has filed suit against the city, the mayor, a captain and a chief accusing them of harassment, race discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower violations. Ernest Richardson filed suit against the City of Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Fire Department, Mayor Richard Thomas, Ops Chief al Farid Salahuddin and Captain Michael St. John.

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The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the appeal of a doctor who claims she was wrongfully replaced as the Polk County Fire Department’s medical director after she voiced concerns about the handling of an African American candidate with a medical condition. Dr. Nancy King served as the occupational health director for Polk County for 15 years.

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The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled yesterday that workers’ compensation exclusivity does not bar a firefighter’s suit for disability discrimination. If you are not an attorney, that sentence probably does not make a whole heck of a lot of sense. However, if you read along let me explain the importance of the ruling.

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The City of Los Angeles has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed in 2017 by former Fire Marshal John Vidovich for $800,000. The suit alleged a conspiracy between the mayor and the firefighter’s union led to Chief Vidovich’s ouster.

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A California battalion chief who was terminated for allegedly failing to report an altercation between a captain and a patient, and lying to investigators about it, has been granted a reprieve by the California Court of Appeals. Loma Linda battalion chief Steve Jones was terminated in 2014 over an incident that occurred on January 1, 2014.

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Two former chief officers of the Pensacola Fire Department have settled their lawsuits against the city for the sum of $575,000. Interim Chief Matthew Schmitt and Deputy Chief Joseph Glover filed separate lawsuits back in 2016 accusing the city of race discrimination and retaliation.

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