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

Tag Archives: overspend

Texas Chief Sues for Wrongful Termination and Defamation

A Texas fire chief who was terminated for allegedly overspending his budget, has filed suit alleging wrongful termination and defamation. Fire Chief Landon Smith was terminated earlier this month by the City of Van Alstyne because he allegedly overspent the fire department's budget by $180,000.

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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