Tag Archives: Houston Fire Department

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 27, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a jury award of $250,000 to a former Houston firefighter against her former captain who shared an intimate video of her; a Minnesota city held ...

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A Harris County jury has awarded a former Houston firefighter $250,000 in damages against her former captain for unlawfully sharing a nude video of her. Melinda Abbt filed suit against Captain John Chris Barrientes and the city, alleging sexual harassment and violation of a Texas law titled “Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material.”

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The Fourteenth District Court of Appeals of Texas has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the driver of a car that was struck by a Houston engine that was backing up. Emmitt Wilson filed the suit in state court naming the city and firefighter Jason Carroll as defendants

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 6, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a suit filed by DC firefighter-EMTs alleging the city reneged on pension-related promises; a lawsuit against Houston firefighters over their role in the death of ...

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A mother whose son died after being tased and arrested by Houston police, has filed suit against the city, the officers involved in the apprehension, and five city firefighters. Meghan Sonnier Simms, the mother of Jermaine K. Sonnier, filed suit yesterday in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

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In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for August 29, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a $31 Million verdict in the Kobe Bryant crash scene photo scandal in Los Angeles County; a ruling by the Wyoming Supreme Court upholding the ...

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The City of Houston has prevailed in a lawsuit brought by the family of an elderly woman who died after a stretcher tipped over. Elizabeth Dott, 94, died 8 days after she sustained head injuries from the fall in July, 2020.

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The Texas Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the City of Houston in a race discrimination suit brought by a probationary firefighter who was dismissed toward the end of his probationary period. Madison T. Garner filed suit contending his termination in 2016 was based upon his race, and that he was subjected to a racially hostile work environment.

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A Houston firefighter who was accused of making a racially disparaging remark about black women, and retaliated against when it was discovered he was married to black woman, has filed suit alleging race discrimination and discrimination on account of his interracial marriage. Nicholas Dahl filed suit against the city and Houston Professional Firefighters.

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The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a sexual harassment suit brought against the Houston Fire Department by a female firefighter. Melinda Abbt brought the action in 2019 after discovering that male firefighters obtained a nude video of her, and watched it multiple times over a period of years.

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A Houston firefighter who was fired following a positive drug test in 2019, has been ordered reinstated by the Texas Court of Appeals because the city failed to comply with its own procedural requirements to inform him of his right to request a "referee test.” FF Pete Cortez was selected for random urinalysis testing in January, 2019.

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The Houston Fire Department is dealing with the aftermath of comments made by a firefighter following a housefire over the weekend. The fire destroyed a home belonging to the Reed family, leaving the family of eight seeking shelter.

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The City of Houston has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Department of Justice on behalf of a female firefighter alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The settlement puts to rest a contentious case that originally involved two female firefighters that dates back to 2009.

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The dismissal of a lawsuit brought against two ranking chief officers of the Houston Fire Department by a district chief over a social media post has been upheld by the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. District Chief Steven Dunbar filed the federal court action pro se after he was suspended and transferred for a social media post.

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