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

An Indiana firefighter who was demoted for disobeying orders related to rumor-spreading about a subordinate’s sexual preferences, has lost his lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation due to his race, disability, age and use of FMLA leave. Brad Collier brought the action against the City of New Albany.

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In the aftermath of murder charges against two Illinois medics, two more stories are in the news related to the deaths of patients. In Chicago, a fire department paramedic has been terminated and a second suspended following an investigation into the death of a man last summer.

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An EMT with FDNY has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit claiming a high-ranking chief pursued her, and then retaliated against her when she reported his harassment. Gina Bellido filed suit against FDNY and EMS Deputy Assistant Chief Roberto Colon in US District Court.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 23, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who suffered a stroke, but was mistaken for being under the influence; a discrimination lawsuit filed ...

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The family of a woman who was arrested for DUI following three accidents has filed suit against the local police and fire departments who concluded she was intoxicated. Jane Carhuff, 55, was driving herself to the doctor on November 11, 2019 when the accidents occurred.

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An assistant chief in Texas who was terminated in 2021 has filed suit alleging gender discrimination. Assistant Chief/Director of Communications Elisa Noriega filed suit today naming the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department and Montgomery County ESD No. 10 as defendants.

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Two fire departments in different states are dealing with unrelated cases of firefighters being charged with child pornography-related offenses. In Dallas, driver-engineer Jesse McFall is facing a felony charge of possession of child pornography.

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Jackson County Circuit Court has approved the settlement of three lawsuits related to the triple-fatal apparatus accident in Kansas City in 2021. The accident involving Pumper 19, and killed Tami Knight, Jennifer San Nicholas and Michael Elwood.

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The family of a Pennsylvania woman who died from COVID on January 23, 2021, has filed suit against the local fire department and several providers claiming they failed to properly evaluate and transport her to definitive care the day before.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 16, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by the Supreme Court of Washington that the public duty doctrine, only applies to statutorily created duties, not common law duties;  a decision ...

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A volunteer firefighter in New York is claiming that she was raped in the firehouse by two ranking officers. The plaintiff claims the officers, who are with the Wantagh Fire Department, first "plied" her with alcohol and then forced themselves on her.

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The Supreme Court of Washington has ruled that the public duty doctrine, one of the fire service’s most important defenses to negligence claims, only applies to statutorily created duties, not common law duties. The ruling came in a suit case brought against the Seattle Fire Department alleging firefighters responded to the wrong address.

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A fire lieutenant with the Denver Fire Department has been terminated following an investigation into offensive comments that over time earned him the nickname of the Racist-Rover. Lieutenant Jared Russo was terminated last month following an investigation that began July 27, 2022.

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Two Illinois EMTs have been charged with first degree murder in the death of a patient they transported late last year. Peter J. Cadigan, 50, and Peggy Jill Finley, 44, are being held in Sangamon County Jail on $1 million bonds.

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