Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

A New Mexico firefighter who was fired earlier this year, has filed suit claiming he was mistakenly identified as a wanted criminal. Daniel Rubio filed suit in Second Judicial District Court claiming that Bernalillo County wrongfully terminated his employment.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 7, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a UK firefighter sentenced to 20 months in prison for taking and sharing a photos of a dead victim; the arrest of two Alabama firefighters ...

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A UK firefighter has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for taking and sharing photos of the body of a man killed in a car crash. Cameron Hancel took the photos in March, 2023 while working for the West Midlands Fire Service.

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Two Alabama firefighters are facing criminal charges over an incident that occurred on September 20, 2024. The incident involved a firefighter who reportedly refused to stop for the county sheriff while operating a fire truck, and the department’s fire chief who was upset about the arrest.

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An Illinois appellate court has ruled that the failure of a fire investigator to provide a suspect with a Miranda warning prior to an interview, violated her Constitutional rights warranting the reversal of her conviction for arson. Adriane Parke was convicted of arson for a fire that occurred in the Drury Inn in Mt. Vernon, Il.

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A US Magistrate Judge in Georgia has recommended the dismissal of all claims brought by a division chief who was terminated after reporting sexual misconduct by other chief officers. Div. Chief Christopher Cox claims that he was terminated by the City of Calhoun in retaliation for reporting a deputy chief and a battalion chief to the fire chief.

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A Kansas City firefighter-paramedic with two pending employment discrimination lawsuits has agreed to settle both suits, and not file a third, in exchange for a $1.3 million settlement. Rebecca Reynolds, 61, alleged she endured over twenty years of harassment and discrimination.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 30, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a decision reversing punishment for a Muncie fire captain at the center of an alleged cheating scandal; the FDNY connection to the indictment of the ...

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An administrative law judge has reversed the harsh disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a Muncie Fire Department captain in the aftermath of the widely-known cheating scandal that wracked the department last year. Fire Captain Troy Dulaney had both his firefighting and EMS credentials revoked following investigations into alleged cheating by his students of state exams.

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The federal bribery and corruption indictment of New York Mayor Eric Adams has an FDNY connection, alleging that certain chiefs were threatened with termination if they refused to accede to the mayor’s demands to provide preferential treatment for a building under construction for the Turkish government.

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The YCMTSU criminal case against an Ottawa firefighter and his officer arising out of a firehouse scuffle, has come to a close with both being found not guilty of all charges. The scuffle was precipitated by what began as a friendly dispute involving a senior firefighter who wanted to handle dishwashing chores, and a rookie who insisted on doing it themselves.

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A New York State paramedic who is facing revocation of his EMT/Paramedic license from the New York State Department of Health has filed a suit in state court seeking to block the state’s ability to impose discipline without a jury trial. Justin Ball filed suit yesterday in Schoharie County Supreme Court naming the NY State Department of Health and the NY State Attorney General as defendants.

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A Florida fire lieutenant who was fired last year has filed suit in federal court alleging gender and age discrimination. Lieutenant Susanne Severson was fired by the Ponce Inlet Fire Department after two firearm-related incidents were brought to the attention of the department’s leadership.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 23, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a statement issued by OSHA relative to the newly proposed Emergency Responder Standard; a lawsuit out of Frederick County, Virginia alleging defamation and whistleblower retaliation; ...

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