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

Tag Archives: cat’s paw theory

Michigan Appeals Court Rejects Union Cat’s Paw Theory in Discrimination Case

The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled against a Saginaw fire officer who claimed the city’s failure to appoint her acting fire chief, interim fire chief, and fire chief was sex discrimination and/or retaliation. Ona Lee Aguilar filed suit in Saginaw Circuit Court naming the city and Saginaw Firefighters, IAFF Local 102.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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