Volunteers

Volunteer firefighters in two states, Pennsylvania and Iowa, are facing criminal charges that accuse them of involvement in multiple arsons. In Pennsylvania, Andrew Bischofis has been arrested by Pennsylvania State Police on charges he was involved with setting four building fires between September 30 and October 1, 2023.

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An audit report released last week by the New York State Comptroller’s Office confirmed that the treasurer of the Hannibal Fire Company stole at least $850,000 from the company. The treasurer, George Parry Jr., committed suicide last year as investigators were accessing the fire company’s financial records that were stored at his home.

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An already complicated legal quagmire in Labtrobe, Pennsylvania has gotten even more complicated with the filing of another civil suit. Firefighter Robert S. Forish filed suit against the Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department, the fire chief, the fire company president, and a county police detective claiming they conspired to purse criminal changes against him in 2021 without probable cause and in retaliation for his exercise of his free speech rights.

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The Supreme Court of Alabama has refused to consider an appeal of a wrongful death lawsuit, concluding that the trial court must first make a determination as to the liability of a firefighter before a final determination on the liability of a volunteer department and a county fire association can be decided.

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A $425,000 settlement has been reached in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former firefighter in Harrison, New York. The lawsuit was filed last year by the US Department of Justice on behalf of Angela Bommarito, naming Town of Harrison, its police chief, Harrison Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, and Fire District Number Two of Harrison.

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A volunteer firefighter has filed suit against the Borough of Allendale claiming that elected officials wrongfully refused to confirm his promotion to assistant chief. Michael Pina filed suit against the borough, the director of emergency management, the fire chief and the fire administrator accusing them of an assortment of claims.

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A former fire chief and his son have pled nolo to charges involving the misuse of department funds. Thomas Perry, 53 the former fire chief of the Chapmanville Fire Department, and his son, Cody, 35, were indicted last year on embezzlement, conspiracy, and fraudulent schemes charges.

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The 3rd Circuit has refused to block a Pennsylvania township from eliminating one of its two volunteer fire companies. The Sassamansville Fire Co. No. 1 brought the action after New Hanover Township voted to eliminate it, claiming a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 22, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by a New York volunteer fire company against contractors over toxic fill used in the construction of a new firehouse; the filing ...

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A woman has been charged with embezzling funds from a North Carolina volunteer fire department. Nicole Manning is facing three counts of stealing from the Stumpy Point Volunteer Fire Department

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A volunteer firefighter in Georgia has been charged with setting his own home on fire to collect on the insurance. Todd Anthony was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff's Office on March 3, 2023, almost a year after the March 16, 2022 fire.

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An Alabama fire department has filed suit against a Florida-based dry cleaner claiming that the cleaning process damaged seven Santa costumes. The Lillian Volunteer Fire Department filed the small claims action against Modern Dry Cleaning, of Pensacola, Florida, seeking $1618.12 in damages and $225 in costs.

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The former treasurer of a North Carolina volunteer fire department has been charged with stealing over $48,000 from the department. Kimberly Hutchens Reeves is facing felony larceny charges for her alleged theft from the Pearce’s Mill Fire Department.

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Today’s burning question: I am a town manager and we have a small volunteer fire department with a part-time paid fire chief. The chief receives a stipend and is expected to put in 20 hours a week. Can he qualify as an exempt executive like our police chief, even though he is a part-time employee?

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