Wrongful termination

Fire Law Roundup for May 29, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 29, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a St. Louis firefighter accused of using a credit card that belongs to the victim of a vehicular accident; the former fire chief of Denton ...

Read More »

Fired Minnesota Assistant Chief Alleges Whistleblower Retaliation

An assistant chief with a Minnesota fire department who was fired earlier this year has filed suit claiming his removal was retaliation for a protected whistleblower report he made. Shea Chwialkowski served as the Assistant Chief of Training & Operations for the Richfield Fire Department until he was terminated on March 29, 2023.

Read More »

Fire Law Roundup for May 22, 2023

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 ...

Read More »

YCMTSU Oregon Prompts Two Federal Lawsuits

“Throughout your life you hear about weird stuff that goes on in small communities and politics and stuff and here we are.” After reading what has been going on in the Tillamook Fire District, I think his quote can only be characterized as a severe understatement.

Read More »

Firefighter Claims Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Cost Her Two Jobs

A California firefighter who was dismissed from two different fire departments, has filed suit against one of the departments and three of its officers. Shelly White filed suit against the Rough & Ready Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Robert Vaughn, Captain Matt Wright, and Lieutenant David Hicks alleging sexual harassment and discrimination.

Read More »

California Jury Awards Fired Chief $4.1 Million

A Los Angeles County jury has awarded a former fire chief $4.1 million in damages for wrongful termination and an assortment of employment related counts. Former West Covina fire chief Larry Whithorn claimed he was terminated after a lengthy campaign by a handful of local officials.

Read More »

Fire Law Roundup for May 1, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 1, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a suit brought by a woman who was injured by a fire hose being dragged by a Dallas fire truck; a suit by the former ...

Read More »

Catching Up on Past Headlines: San Jose CA and Westfield MA

Two cases we have been following have seemingly come to a conclusion this past week. The first case out of San Jose caught quite a bit of media attention due to the titillating nature of the allegations: a video surfaced last fall showing a scantily clad woman exiting a San Jose engine and entering a local strip club.

Read More »

Missouri Chief Alleges His Termination Was Retaliation

A Missouri fire chief who was fired in January has filed suit against a fire district and the district’s chairman alleging race discrimination and retaliation. Chief Ankeneth Corbin filed suit against the Black Jack Fire Protection District and Chairman David Calhoun.

Read More »

Fire Law Roundup for April 17, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 17, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss the arrest of a woman who embezzled funds from a North Carolina volunteer fire department; a cheating scandal in the Muncie Fire Department; a wrongful ...

Read More »

Arizona Firefighter Claims Termination Related to Union Activities

An Arizona firefighter who was terminated last November, has filed suit claiming the city’s stated reason for firing him was a pretext to retaliate against him for his union activities. Shannon Glynn filed suit against the City of El Mirage and its fire chief alleging violations of the Arizona Employment Protection Act, the Arizona Public Safety Employees Act, the FLSA, and his Constitutional rights.

Read More »

Fifth Circuit Upholds Termination of Texas Captain

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a fire department’s use of the Navy’s Physical Fitness Standard did not discriminate against a Texas fire captain. Rachael Crivelli filed suit against Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 7 after she was fired for “repeatedly failing the new physical fitness assessment.”

Read More »