Tag Archives: spokane fire department

Fire Law Roundup for June 24, 2024

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 24, 2024, Brad and Curt discuss a New York EMT sentenced for falsifying a court transcript; the dismissal of a contentious conspiracy case out of the Latrobe, PA Fire Department; a ...

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Ninth Circuit Reinstates Spokane Vaccine Case Back to District Court

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit brought by Spokane firefighters who sought an exemption from the COVID19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds, and remanded the case back to the district court. The district court dismissed the case back in 2022 ruling that the city’s enforcement of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate was valid.

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More Bad News for the Anti-Vaxxers: Washington State Mandate Upheld

A federal judge has refused to issue a temporary restraining order in a COVID19 vaccine lawsuit brought by government employees, including three Spokane firefighters and several Washington State Patrol officers. FFs Travis Wise, Daniel Betz, and Jerry Lease along with 16 state employees filed suit this month claiming Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate is illegal.

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Court: Union Can Settle Firefighter Discipline Case

The US District Court in Eastern Washington has concluded that a firefighter’s due process rights are not violated by a union settling a disciplinary matter against him, even if the agreement waives his right to appeal. The case involved a disciplinary investigation in the Spokane Fire Department into allegations of harassment and bullying.

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Spokane Fire Confronts Hazing of Probies

The Spokane Fire Department is reviewing an investigative report into allegations of hazing and bullying of probationary employees at one of their fire stations. The investigation was conducted by the city’s Human Resource department who interviewed 30 members.

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Spokane Captain Seeks $2.5 Million for Retaliation

A fire captain in Spokane, Washington who was terminated last Friday for threatening a subordinate has filed a $2.5 million claim against the department. Captain Kevin Smathers claims that the fire department failed to protect him from retaliation by a ...

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Spokane LT Not Guilty Of Assaulting Police

The long saga of a Spokane fire lieutenant who was falsely accused of two different sets of offenses by Washington State Patrol, ended yesterday with a not-guilty verdict. Lieutenant Todd Chism was arrested in 2008 after police discovered his credit ...

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