Clarksburg Overtime Case Raises Questions About Retaliation

The Clarksburg, WV FLSA lawsuit covered last week has taken a turn with two additional proceedings coming to light. Firefighters actually filed two suits: the one we covered and a second suit filed in state court. In addition, the city terminated the fire chief who was a plaintiff in both suits.

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Baltimore Prevails in Disability Discrimination Suit

The US District Court for the District of Maryland has dismissed a disability discrimination and retaliation suit brought by an EMT with the Baltimore City Fire Department who sought to become a firefighter. Matthew Schaeffer was originally hired by the city in 2015.

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Entire West Virginia Fire Department Sues City For FLSA Violations

All forty-four members of the Clarksburg Fire Department have filed suit claiming the city’s method of calculating their hourly rate, regular rate and overtime rate violates the FLSA. The firefighters claim that the city pays them a salary, but has been making a mistake when converting their salary to an hourly rate.

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Suit Claims Atlanta Fire Failed To Accommodate BC With Long-COVID

A battalion chief with the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department who developed long-COVID in 2021, has filed suit claiming the city violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by denying his request for a light-duty assignment. BC Sean Johnson filed suit alleging disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the ADA.

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LA Firefighters Injured in Truck Explosion File Suit

Seven Los Angeles city firefighters who were injured in a truck explosion earlier this year, have filed suit against the truck’s driver, owner and manufacturers alleging negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty. A total of nine firefighters were injured in the explosion, who of whom suffered critical injuries.

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Fire Law Roundup for June 24, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 24, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a New York EMT sentenced for falsifying a court transcript; the dismissal of a contentious conspiracy case out of the Latrobe, PA Fire Department; a ...

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NY EMT and Commissioner Sentenced

A former EMT and fire commissioner with the Woodmere Fire District was sentenced one-year in jail for falsifying a court transcript related to the dismissal of criminal charges against him for something that occurred while he was responding to an elevator emergency.

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Court Dismisses Pennsylvania Firefighter’s Conspiracy Suit

A contentious lawsuit brought by a former member of the Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department, has been dismissed. Robert Forish sued the fire department, the fire chief, the fire company president, and a county police detective claiming they conspired to pursue criminal charges against him in 2021 without probable cause.

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Ninth Circuit Reinstates Spokane Vaccine Case Back to District Court

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit brought by Spokane firefighters who sought an exemption from the COVID19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds, and remanded the case back to the district court. The district court dismissed the case back in 2022 ruling that the city’s enforcement of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate was valid.

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Fire Law Roundup for June 17, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 17, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the case of a San Francisco firefighter who was viciously assaulted by a colleague prompting criminal charges, discipline and a civil suit; a lawsuit filed ...

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San Francisco Assault Case Back in the News

The vicious assault of a San Francisco firefighter by a colleague is back in the headlines as a Bay Areas news affiliate is asking why was the victim forced out of the department, and the perpetrator is still on the payroll.

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Oregon Lieutenant Claims Whistleblower Retaliation

A lieutenant with the Umatilla County Fire District #1 claims that he was forced to resign in retaliation for his having reported inaccuracies in information related to the SAFER grant program. Jeremy Gillette resigned on July 13, 2023 after being threatened with termination and the loss of his state credentials.

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