Wrongful death

A series of lawsuits filed against the National Park Service by individuals and insurance companies arising out of the devastating complex of wildland fires that tore through Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 2016, have been narrowed by a decision yesterday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Read More »

The families of two Porterville, California firefighters who died while attempting a rescue at building fire, have filed suit against the manufacturers and distributors of their SCBAs. Captain Ramon Clemente Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Lee Jones died on February 18, 2020 while trying to rescue a disabled woman trapped on the second floor of a library.

Read More »

A third lawsuit has been filed against Kansas City arising out of a triple fatal accident last December involving Pumper 19. The accident killed Jennifer San Nicolas, Michael Elwood, and Tami Knight.

Read More »

The family of a woman who died of a drug overdose following a party attended by several members of the North Las Vegas Fire Department has filed suit against the city, the woman’s firefighter-husband, and four other firefighters. Tiffany Slatsky died on February 23, 2020 following unsuccessful efforts by her firefighter-husband, Christopher Candito, to administer narcan to her.

Read More »

In this episode, Bill Maccarone and Curt discuss last week's headlines, including an FLSA lawsuit out of Tulsa, OK; the settlement of a race discrimination suit out of Everett, WA; the dismissal of the federal claims against Miami-Dade Fire Rescue over an EMS run; a Massachusetts Civil Service ruling overturning the termination of a deputy chief, but demoting him to firefighter; and the filing of a COVID-related wrongful death suit against an Oregon fire department.

Read More »

A wrongful death lawsuit filed against Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has been remanded back to state court by the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida after the federal claims were dismissed. The lawsuit was filed last year by the family of Gustavo Beaz, who died in 2019.

Read More »

The family of an Oregon woman who died of COVID in 2020, has filed suit against the fire department and several firefighters claiming their refusal to treat and transport the victim led to her death. Teresa Vaughn died on December 26, 2020, hours after firefighters from the Klamath County Fire District No. 1 suggested her domestic partner drive her to the hospital.

Read More »

In this session of Fire Law Roundup, Brad and Curt discuss the lawsuits arising out of the Los Angeles County firehouse shooting incident on June 1, 2021, a second suit filed in the KCMO fatal apparatus accident lawsuit in December, ...

Read More »

Two lawsuits were filed last week over the shooting at a Los Angeles County fire station last year. Heidi Carlon, the widow of firefighter Tory Carlon, filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court naming the estate of the firefighter-shooter, Jonathan Patrick Tatone, and the county as defendants.

Read More »

A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a firefighter and the city of Kansas City arising out of an apparatus-involved accident last month. The family of Tami Knight filed suit today in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Read More »

The city of Kansas City is facing a wrongful death suit following a tragic apparatus accident on December 15, 2021. The crash involved an engine and a civilian vehicle that killed three people, two occupants of the civilian vehicle and a pedestrian.

Read More »

The Michigan Court of Appeals has ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against a Detroit fire officer who apparently missed a body at a fire scene in 2018. Kevin McGriff, 26, perished in the March 5, 2018 fire. Five days later his body was located by his father who had stopped by the building to search for insurance papers.

Read More »

The owner of a Las Vegas property who is facing manslaughter charges over a multi-fatality fire in 2019, has filed suit against the city and his fire alarm company, alleging they and others are responsible for the fire deaths.

Read More »

The widow of a Texas man who died after a stretcher-related injury in 2019 has filed suit against a fire department, six firefighter-EMTs, a local hospital and an ER doctor. Jacqueline Veals filed suit yesterday in Dallas County District Court in her capacity as personal representative for Fred Douglas Veal, Jr.

Read More »