Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Fire Law Roundup for May 1, 2023
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 1, 2023, Brad and Curt discuss a suit brought by a woman who was injured by a fire hose being dragged by a Dallas fire truck; a suit by the former ...
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Catching Up on Past Headlines: San Jose CA and Westfield MA
Two cases we have been following have seemingly come to a conclusion this past week. The first case out of San Jose caught quite a bit of media attention due to the titillating nature of the allegations: a video surfaced last fall showing a scantily clad woman exiting a San Jose engine and entering a local strip club.
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Three Westfield Firefighters Reinstated by Civil Service Commission
The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission delivered a stunning rebuke to the City of Westfield criticizing the handling of a disciplinary investigation against three firefighters who were involved in reporting concerns about sexual harassment. In doing so the Commission ordered the reinstatement of Captain Rebecca Boutin, FF Kyle Miltimore, and FF David Kennedy.
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Mass Firefighter Charged With Enticing a Minor
A Massachusetts firefighter has been charged with enticing a minor. Westfield firefighter Richard Paul reportedly sought to meet someone he believed was a 13-year old girl. Instead it was an undercover police officer. Paul had been under investigation by federal, ...
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Terminated Indiana Firefighter Claims Age Discrimination
A 57-year old Indiana firefighter who claims he was fired after refusing to resign, has filed suit alleging violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act. Garry Harling filed suit in US District Court for the District of Indiana last week against the City of Westfield.
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Three Terminated Mass Firefighters Sue Claiming Retaliation
Three Massachusetts firefighters who were terminated just before Christmas last year have filed separate lawsuits claiming their firing was retaliation for cooperating with a state police investigation involving their current fire chief. Capt. Rebecca Boutin, FF David Kennedy and FF Kyle Miltimore filed their suits against the City of Westfield.
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Massachusetts Judge Fines City’s Fire Commission For Open Meetings Violation in Firefighter Discipline Case
A Superior Court Judge has fined the City of Westfield’s Fire Commission $1,000 for willfully violating the state’s open meetings law. Judge Constance M. Sweeney handed down the ruling Monday after having nullified the termination of three firefighters last August.
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Texas Firefighter Terminated Over Facebook Post
A Texas firefighter who posted remarks on Facebook that supported the sport shooting Latinos crossing the border has been terminated from two fire departments that he served with. The Westfield Fire Department and the Bellaire Fire Department fired firefighter Chris Bush following his post last week.
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Texas Firefighters Terminated Over Hazing Video
Six firefighters with the Westfield Fire Department were terminated yesterday following a rookie hazing that was captured on video. The video shows a firefighter strapped to a backboard having water and an assortment of food items dumped on him by his colleagues.
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