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

Tag Archives: Shawn Thomas

FDNY Firefighter Terminated Over “Racially Hostile” Merit Matters T-Shirts Files Suit

The FDNY firefighter who was terminated last February for wearing T-shirts in his firehouse that advocated merit based hiring and promotions has filed suit in federal court. Thomas Buttaro was terminated after a black firefighter objected to the shirts he was wearing.

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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