Tag Archives: demotion

Second Alarm: Another Salvo Fired at FDNY Commissioner Kavanagh

Three FDNY chief officers who filed suit against Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh last month, have filed a second lawsuit, this one accusing her of age discrimination. Deputy Chief Michael Gala, Deputy Chief Joseph Jardin, and Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Massucci filed suit in Kings County Supreme Court.

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Court Upholds Termination of Florida Lieutenant

A Florida fire lieutenant who was demoted for insubordination, and then terminated when he refused to accept the demotion, has lost his federal court lawsuit to get his job back. Lt. Christopher Chandler claims Walton County Fire Rescue violated the FMLA when it demoted him, and violated the FMLA and Florida disability discrimination laws when it terminated him.

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Cobb County Prevails in First Amendment and Whistleblower Suit

A Georgia firefighter who was disciplined after contacting a county commissioner to voice concerns about apparatus being place out of service, has lost a lawsuit contesting the discipline on First Amendment and whistleblower grounds. Cobb County firefighter Scott Millspaugh filed suit last year claiming his “demotion” from Firefighter III to Firefighter II was retaliation

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Mayor Sues Council Over Blocked Demotion of Fire Chief

An Indiana mayor has filed suit against her city council challenging their authority to block her demotion of the fire chief. Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed suit yesterday after the town council voted unanimously not to demote Fire Chief James Vangorder. Such demotions require council approval.

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Discipline, Deception and Hard Cases

Today’s burning question: I was disciplined last week because I called in sick to go to my daughter’s hockey game. Her team was in the championship and I could not get anyone to cover my shift. I am being demoted from captain to engineer but we had a captain who got caught lying on-duty and he got virtually no punishment. Why am I being demoted and he get’s a slap on the wrist? Answer: My father has a saying: hard cases make bad law.

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Demoted California Captain Seeks New Hearing

A fire captain in Selma, California who was demoted earlier this year, has filed suit claiming the city failed to provide him with proper notice and an opportunity to be heard at an appellate hearing before the city council. Eric Beasley filed suit in Fresno County Superior Court naming the City of Selma, the fire chief and the city manager.

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Demoted California Battalion Chief Alleges Retaliation and Bill of Rights Violation

A Glendale fire captain who was demoted from battalion chief last December, has filed suit claiming his demotion and subsequent removal from two special projects was retaliation for his opposition to what he characterizes as an “illegal directive” from his fire chief. Captain Brian Murphy filed suit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming his demotion violated the California Labor Code §1102.5 and the California Firefighter Procedural BOR.

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Officer Facing Demotion Over Racist Joke Gets New Assignment

An Indiana firefighter who was accused of using a racial slur, has received a rather unusual penalty: he will now serve as the fire department's liaison with an outside diversity consultant. Chad Emsweller of the Evansville Fire Department was accused of using a racial slur while telling what he believed to be a joke

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