Tag Archives: race discrimination

Fire Law Roundup for October 14, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 14, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of a lawsuit arising out of an assault in California; a ruling that upheld a public utility decision citing a utility for not ...

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North Carolina City Enters Into Consent Decree Over Hiring Process

The City of Durham has entered into a consent decree with the US DOJ in response to claims that the hiring process used by the Durham Fire Department unintentionally created a disparate impact on African Americans. The consent decree resolves allegations that the city “disproportionately excluded African-American applicants from employment" as firefighters.

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Fire Law Roundup for August 26, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for August 26, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals that a fire department that uses apparatus to block traffic at an accident scene, is entitled to ...

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Fire Law Roundup for July 22, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 22, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a guilty plea entered by a St. Louis firefighter who stole a patient’s wallet and credit card; a race discrimination suit brought by a Savannah ...

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Demoted Savannah BC Alleges Race Discrimination and Retaliation

A Savannah battalion chief who was demoted to captain after he complained about race discrimination, has filed suit alleging discrimination and retaliation. Jeffrey Croslen filed suit in US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia against City of Savannah and Fire Chief Elzie Kitchen.

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Rochester Settles Firefighter’s Racism Suit

The sensational lawsuit by Rochester firefighter Jerrod Jones has been settled for $150,000, or $521,000, depending on your perspective. Jones claimed he was the victim of race discrimination that culminated in a white captain ordering him to attend a racist party in 2022 while on-duty.

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Fire Law Headlines: New York and Miami-Dade Follow-Up

There are two cases in the Fire Law headlines today, both being follow-ups of cases we covered previously. In New York, the Supreme Court for Oswego County has ruled that individual taxpayers lack standing to challenge a tax increase imposed by a fire district.

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Jury Awards $250k to Nashville Deputy Fire Marshal

The City of Nashville has been ordered by a federal court jury to pay a deputy fire marshal $250,000 plus attorneys fees. Maggie Lawrence claimed she was the victim of gender, race and age discrimination when she was passed over for promotion to fire marshal in 2022.

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New Jersey Firefighter Alleges Race Discrimination and Retaliation

A New Jersey firefighter is suing his department, the fire chief and a firefighter alleging violations of the state’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act due to race discrimination and retaliation. Michael Warren filed suit against the Hamilton Township, Fire Chief Christopher Tozzi and Ray Krajcsovics.

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Albany Prevails at Second Circuit in Discrimination Suit

An Albany fire captain who claims he wrongfully was denied a promotion to battalion chief following an off-duty incident, has lost his appeal to the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Captain Jeremy Clawson claims the City of Albany rescinded a civil service promotion he earned in 2019 on account of a disability and his race.

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Suit Alleges Discrimination Based on Position Designation

The Phoenix Fire Department is facing a lawsuit by a civilian employee who claims she was misclassified into a lower-paid position and denied a promotion, on account of her race. Melissa Green filed suit claiming she performed duties that qualified her for a “User Tech” position, but was paid as an “Administrative Aide.”

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Vermont Fire Department Sued Over Ketamine Injection

The mother of a 14-year-old boy with developmental disabilities has filed suit against the City of Burlington, Vermont accusing police and firefighters of racial bias, excessive force, and unnecessarily injecting her son with ketamine in an effort to subdue him in 2021. Cathy Austrian filed suit in Chittenden County Superior Court accusing the city of several state law violations.

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Fire Law Roundup for February 5, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for February 5, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss the settlement of two gender discrimination lawsuit by the Lincoln Fire Department in Nebraska; an appellate decision dismissing the claims of a kayaker injured during ...

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