Wrongful termination

A lawsuit filed by a deaf Idaho firefighter who was terminated, is headed to trial after a federal court refused to grant him summary judgment. Matthew Burgoyne was terminated from the Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District for insubordination in 2019.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 24, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit challenging the termination of a union president from Massachusetts for wearing his dress uniform to a firefighter funeral, a Virginia Beach firefighter facing ...

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A Massachusetts fire lieutenant and union president who was fired in April, has filed suit in conjunction with his union alleging the city’s action violates the First Amendment. Lieutenant William S. Taylor was fired by the City of Marlborough, in large measure because he wore his Class A uniform to the funeral of a firefighter.

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A probationary firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department who resigned after just ten months on the job due to stress and harassment, has filed suit against the county claiming disability discrimination. The suit was filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging six counts of employment discrimination under state law.

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Two Texas firefighters have been dismissed after speaking to a local reporter about what they claim is an abuse of power and hostile environment by a local police chief who is serving as acting president of the local volunteer fire company. Lieutenant Drew Cizek and Benjamin Gullet say they were terminated from the Central Bell County Fire & Rescue

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An FDNY firefighter who was terminated in March for refusing to get a COVID vaccine, has been reinstated by a Justice of the New York Supreme Court. Timothy Rivicci has been ordered reinstated with full backpay and benefits under a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio last week.

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A Georgia firefighter who was terminated in 2017 following an off-duty vehicle accident, has lost his suit to regain his job. Robert Bailey was fired from the Henry County Fire Department following an investigation into an accident that occurred on June 14, 2017.

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A Los Angeles County Firefighter who was prohibited from returning to active duty and ordered to retire after he suffered two epileptic seizures, has filed suit claiming the county violated California’s disability discrimination laws. Andrew Lithgoe filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

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A Minnesota fire captain who was terminated earlier this year when he was unable to return to duty due to PTSD, has filed suit alleging disability discrimination. Joseph Tiedeman filed suit against the City of Brooklyn Park claiming that its decision to terminate him in March, 2022, violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

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A Florida fire lieutenant who was demoted for insubordination, and then terminated when he refused to accept the demotion, has lost his federal court lawsuit to get his job back. Lt. Christopher Chandler claims Walton County Fire Rescue violated the FMLA when it demoted him, and violated the FMLA and Florida disability discrimination laws when it terminated him.

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A Columbia fire captain who was terminated after posting comments online that were critical of law enforcement following a shooting death of one of his relatives, is filing suit to get his job back. Captain Ameer Bagley was fired on April 10, 2020, just 3 days after the death of 17-year-old Joshua Ruffin.

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A wrongful termination suit filed by an Ohio firefighter-medic who was dismissed after he conducted a court ordered blood-draw from an impaired driving suspect, will proceed according to a ruling by a US District Court judge. Mitchell Plunk was terminated from the Chester Township Fire Department.

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A volunteer firefighter in New York who was dismissed for allegedly missing three consecutive monthly meetings, has filed suit claiming First Amendment, due process and equal protection violations. Keith Davis filed suit in federal court naming the Commack Fire Department, the Commack Fire District, the fire chief, the executive board, and the fire commissioners as defendants.

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A US Magistrate Judge has recommended that summary judgment be granted to the City of Denver in a lawsuit filed by a probationary firefighter who was terminated in 2019. Da Lesha Allen filed suit claiming her dismissal was due to race and gender discrimination.

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