Tag Archives: first amendment

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for March 11, 2024, Curt discusses a disciplinary investigation into firefighters who booed an elected official at a promotional ceremony; the dismissal of two Michigan fire departments from a lawsuit brought by a ...

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 23, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a lawsuit by an Iowa firefighter injured when the engine on which he was riding collided with a piece of farm machinery being driven by ...

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 3, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the brother of a man whose body was used for intubation practice by a Washington state fire department; ...

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The US Supreme Court has denied the request of Howard County Battalion Chief Kevin Buker to consider an appeal of his termination in 2013. Chief Buker was fired following a series of Facebook posts that began over the gun-control debate

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Three wrongful termination cases are in the fire law headlines today, one from Oregon, one from Pennsylvania and one from Michigan. All three are updates on cases we covered in the past few months.

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A wrongful termination lawsuit filed by the former fire marshal of Nampa, Idaho survived a motion for summary judgment last week. Deputy Chief Doug Strosnider was fired in May, 2014 after he sent notices to two property owners about installing fire alarm and sprinkler systems.

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Today’s burning question: Can we delete comments that we find offensive on our fire department’s Facebook page? Answer: That question is actually a heck of a lot more complicated than you might imagine… just ask the City of Beech Grove, Indiana.

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A Missouri fire protection district and its fire chief are facing a suit that claims they terminated a firefighter because she was trying to organize a union. Amber Rounseville is suing the Ebenezer Fire Protection District and Fire Chief Nelson Prewitt alleging violations of the Missouri Constitution, state collective bargaining laws, and the First Amendment’s freedom of association clause.

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A union official’s letter to the editor warning the public about a proposed reduction in staffing has led to his three day suspension. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue District suspended IAFF Local 2819 Vice President Ronny Smith over a letter ...

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Last month we covered a lawsuit filed on behalf of Howard County Battalion Chief Kevin Buker who was terminated over a series of Facebook posts on gun control last January. Yesterday, we reviewed a second suit by Mark Grutzmacher, a ...

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An Ohio fire chief who was terminated in March because he allegedly allowed a friend of his to assist at a fire, has filed a second lawsuit against the township trustees who fired him, this time claiming a violation of ...

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Albuquerque Fire Department Captain Emily Kane wanted to run for state representative. Standing in her way (besides her opponents) was a city charter provision that prohibited employees from either running for or holding state office. When Captain Kane was informed ...

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Here is a very simple formula that my Public Sector Labor Law professor gave us many years ago in law school: Union official + speaking on an issue of public concern + discipline for speaking = a lawsuit the city cannot ...

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Todays burning question: Can a volunteer firefighter be disciplined for publically supporting a petition NOT to lay off two career firefighters. There’s an interesting case developing in Monroe Township, New Jersey involving the six-month suspension of a deputy chief for ...

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