Court Upholds Cleveland Fire’s No Beard Policy

A Cleveland firefighter who claimed to have been the victim of race and disability discrimination due to Cleveland’s facial hair policy, has lost his lawsuit to be allowed to have a short beard. Anthony Davis filed suit in 2023, claiming the city’s policy prohibiting facial hair at the SCBA interface was aimed at “thinning the ranks of Black/African American firefighters.”

Houston Firefighter-Dispatcher Challenges No-Beard Rule on Religious Grounds

A Houston firefighter assigned to the dispatch center as a Senior Communications Captain has filed suit claiming the city has failed to accommodate his sincerely held religious beliefs by requiring him to remain clean-shaven. Brandon E. O’Neal filed suit today in federal court naming the city, the Houston Fire Department and Fire Chief Samuel Pena as defendants.

Fire Law Roundup for December 4, 2023

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 4, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling by the Missouri Court of Appeals concluding that the state’s Board of Mediation acted arbitrarily in denying a union’s petition to organize fire ...

Federal Court Upholds Atlantic City Fire’s No-Beard Rule

The US District Court for the District of New Jersey has upheld the Atlantic City Fire Department’s no-beard policy. The policy had been challenged by a city firefighter, Alexander Smith, on First Amendment, religious, and equal protection grounds. Smith also claims he had been retaliated against for requesting an accommodation.

Court Upholds No-Beard Rule for Jacksonville Firefighters

A US District Court judge has granted judgment to the City of Jacksonville, dismissing a lawsuit filed by thirty African American firefighters who claimed that the city’s requirement that they be clean-shaven was discriminatory. The firefighters filed suit in 2020 alleging the city’s refusal to grant them a continuing accommodation to have closely cropped shadow beards constituted disability and race discrimination.

BREAKING NEWS: Second Circuit Upholds FDNY’s No Beard Policy

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court decision that concluded that FDNY has to allow firefighters with a skin condition an accommodation to have beards. In doing so the court concluded: “An accommodation is not reasonable within the meaning of the ADA if it is specifically prohibited by a binding safety regulation promulgated by a federal agency.”

Thirty Jacksonville Firefighters Challenge Clean Shaven Requirement

Thirty Jacksonville, Florida firefighters have filed suit claiming the department’s policy that SCBA qualified firefighters be clean-shaven discriminates against them on the basis of their race and disability. All thirty are African American firefighters who suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae.

Judge Denies TRO To Atlantic City Firefighter Over Religious Beard

A US District Court judge has denied a request for a temporary restraining order against the Atlantic City Fire Department to block disciplinary proceedings against a firefighter who has refused to shave his beard due to his religious beliefs. Alexander Smith filed suit claiming the fire department’s rules prohibiting beards discriminates against him on account of his religion.

Four FDNY Firefighters Challenge Shaving Requirement As Discriminatory

Four African American firefighters have filed suit against the City of New York challenging FDNY’s requirement that they be “clean shaven”. The firefighters claim the city's policy is part of a deliberate effort to “thin the ranks of African American firefighters.”

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

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