Court Holds FDNY Not Liable in EMS Dispatch and Transport Case

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court has ruled as a matter of law, that FDNY cannot be held liable for their initial decision to dispatch a basic life support ambulance as opposed to paramedics to an incident scene, or the later decision of EMTs to await the arrival of paramedics rather than transport a patient immediately to the hospital.

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Disabled FDNY Firefighter Sues Over Vaccine Mandate

An FDNY firefighter who suffered a severe allergic reaction to the COVID vaccine resulting in a career-ending heart condition, and who was denied an accidental disability pension, has filed suit in federal court alleging that the city violated his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights.

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NY Union President Disciplined For Refusing to Participate in Training He Deemed Too Dangerous

The president of IAFF Local 86, Troy Uniformed Firefighters Association, is challenging a 15-day suspension without pay for refusing to participate in a training exercise he considered to be dangerous. Eric Wisher was cited for insubordination because he refused to participate in a mask confidence training exercise that was being conducted by the NY State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

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Fire Law Roundup for October 21, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 21, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a lawsuit brought by combat vet who was denied employment by the Paterson NJ Fire Department due to PTSD concerns; a lawsuit ...

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Oregon Fire District Facing Another Lawsuit

An Oregon fire district that experienced a YCMTSU problem resulting in two federal lawsuits in 2023, is back in the Fire Law news with the filing of a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit by two former captains. The captains claim they were forced to resign after reporting what they considered to be violations of the law by the fire chief brought in to right the ship.

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Fire Law Roundup for October 14, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 14, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a lawsuit arising out of an assault in California; a ruling that upheld a public utility decision citing a utility for not ...

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California Fire District Settles Assault Claims for $965k

A California firefighter who claimed he was assaulted by a fire captain and a firefighter at an off-duty fire department event has agreed to settle his suit for $965k. Michael Botill filed suit last year naming the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County, Captain Dan Jordan and firefighter Forrest Gleitsman as defendants.

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North Carolina City Enters Into Consent Decree Over Hiring Process

The City of Durham has entered into a consent decree with the US DOJ in response to claims that the hiring process used by the Durham Fire Department unintentionally created a disparate impact on African Americans. The consent decree resolves allegations that the city “disproportionately excluded African-American applicants from employment" as firefighters.

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