Fire Apparatus Antitrust Litigation Expanding
We have covered the anti-trust lawsuits filed against the fire apparatus manufacturers since the first one was filed by the City of La Crosse on August 20, 2025. The last time I blogged about these suits was February 12, 2026. While the suits continued to be f…
Massachusetts Appeals Court Rejects Retired Chiefs’ Claim for Unused Comp Time
Two retired Boston chief officers will not receive additional compensation for unused comp time after the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that the City of Boston had no contractual or statutory obligation to cash out the accumulated leave upon their retireme…
Wisconsin Volunteer Lieutenant Claims Retaliation After Raising Department Safety Concerns
A volunteer firefighter and Lieutenant with the Pardeeville Fire Department in Wisconsin has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was suspended and ultimately dismissed from the department in retaliation for raising concerns about safety, leadership, and d…
Fire Law Roundup for June 1, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 1, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a challenge to the dismissal of a San Antonio who was lawfully prescribed low-THC cannabis; a ruling by an Ohio appellate court upholding the termination of a Columbus firefighter who …
Texas Firefighter Says He Was Forced Out Over Prescribed THC Use
A San Antonio firefighter-paramedic claims he was effectively forced out of the San Antonio Fire Department after testing positive for THC despite participating in Texas’ Compassionate Use Program and possessing documentation showing his use of legally prescri…
Ohio Court Upholds Termination of Columbus Firefighter Over Comments to Coworkers
An Ohio appellate court has upheld the termination of a Columbus firefighter whose comments to coworkers led to findings that he violated the city’s anti-harassment policies and workplace conduct rules. The case involved FF Robin Garrison of the Columbus Divis…
Ninth Circuit Affirms Accommodation Efforts in Vaccine Mandate Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a Bellevue firefighter who sought a religious accommodation from Washington state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The decision issued today, affirmed summary judgment in favor of t…
East Chicago’s Punitive 8-Hour Shift Schedule Dispute Lives On
The Indiana Court of Appeals has granted the request of East Chicago Professional Firefighters Local 365 to send a lawsuit against the city back to trial court. The firefighters alleged the city violated Indiana Code which requires firefighters to receive at l…
Maryland Volunteer Firefighter Arrested Following Alleged Assault of Fellow Firefighter
A Baltimore County volunteer firefighter has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving a fellow firefighter. According to Baltimore County Police, officers responded on May 5, 2026 to the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Compa…
Fire Law Roundup for May 25, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 25, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a whistleblower retaliation suit brought by a Florida deputy chief; a federal court decision throwing out a race discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit brought by a Virg…
Florida Deputy Fire Chief Files Whistleblower Suit Against City of Miramar
A deputy chief with Miramar Fire Rescue has filed suit against the city alleging retaliation in violation of the Florida Whistleblower Act. The complaint was filed in Broward County Circuit Court by Bruce Britton, who alleges he held multiple positions with th…
Virginia Federal Court Dismisses Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Brought by Lynchburg Firefighter
A federal court in Virginia has granted summary judgment in favor of the City of Lynchburg in a lawsuit brought by former Firefighter Brian Younger, who alleged race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981 following his termination from…
Iowa Fire Chief Reinstated Following Lawsuit and Public Concern
An Iowa fire chief who was terminated in March and sued for wrongful termination in April, has been reinstated. The City of Mitchellville, Iowa terminated Fire Chief Mike Twohey following concerns raised by Mayor Tony Jensen regarding his leadership within the…
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Upholds $1.4 Million Verdict in Fire Chief’s Retaliation Suit
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed a jury verdict finding that the Town of Marshfield retaliated against former Fire Chief Kevin Robinson in violation of G. L. c. 151B after he opposed what he believed was gender discrimination against his n…
Sexual Harassment Suit Filed Over Welfare-to-Work Placement at California Fire Department
A California woman has filed suit in federal court alleging that she was subjected to months of sexual harassment and discrimination while assigned to the Calipatria Fire Department through a welfare-to-work placement program. The lawsuit names the fire depart…
Fire Law Roundup for May 18, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 18, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a suit against a Louisiana Parish over a mansion that was destroyed following and fire and a rekindle; a wrongful death suit against the City of Cleveland over the death of a fire cade…
Lawsuit Blames Rekindle for Destruction of Louisiana Plantation’s Historic Mansion
The owners of Nottoway Plantation have filed suit against Iberville Parish Government, its president, and the City of Plaquemine following the fire that destroyed the plantation's historic mansion in White Castle, Louisiana in May of 2025.
Wrongful Death Suit Filed Over Hazing Death of Cleveland Fire Cadet
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the family of a fire cadet who died while attending the Cleveland Fire Department’s Training Academy. The complaint was filed today in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by Terri Simpson, individually and as ad…
Pawtucket Reinstates Firefighters Terminated in Drug Investigation
The City of Pawtucket has reinstated four firefighters who were terminated last year following an investigation into allegations involving marijuana use, purchase, and sales among department personnel. Ten firefighters ultimately left the department as a resul…
Oregon Journalist Doubles Down on Feud With Fire District
An Oregon journalist who filed a lawsuit two weeks ago alleging a small fire district in Central Oregon violated the state’s public meetings law, has now filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging the district and several of its officials violated his First…