Federal Magistrate Recommends Dismissal of Former Georgia Fire Chief’s Race Discrimination and Retaliation Suit
A federal magistrate judge has recommended that summary judgment be granted in favor of Douglas County, Georgia, in a lawsuit filed by former Fire Chief/EMS Director Roderick B. Jolivette, who alleged that the county discriminated against him because of his ra…
East Chicago Firefighters Settle First Amendment Retaliation Case for $1.2 Million
The City of East Chicago has agreed to pay $1.2 million to resolve a federal lawsuit brought by members of East Chicago Professional Firefighters Local 365 alleging they were subjected to retaliation for engaging in protected First Amendment activity.
Fire Law Roundup for July 13, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 13, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss new allegations being brought against a Muncie fire captain who recently prevailed on allegations of helping students cheat on exams; a lawsuit filed by a Colorado firefighter claimin…
Muncie Seeks to Terminate Captain Following New Misconduct Complaint
The City of Muncie has initiated a new effort to terminate Captain Troy Dulaney, filing a second amended complaint of misconduct with the Muncie Fire Merit Commission that seeks his dismissal from the Muncie Fire Department.
Colorado Firefighter Alleges Retaliation, Age Discrimination, Wage Violations and False Claims Act Retaliation
A Colorado firefighter has filed suit against the Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District, its fire chief, the Town of Platteville, and the Town of Gilcrest, alleging that he was terminated after repeatedly raising concerns about firefighter training, pu…
California Family Seeks Permission to File Late Claim in Lake Castaic Drowning
The family of a man who drowned while paddleboarding at Lake Castaic has petitioned the LA County Superior Court for permission to pursue a wrongful death claim against the County of Los Angeles, the LA County Fire Department, the LA County Parks and Recreatio…
Investigation Finds California Fire Captains Misused Positions in House-Flipping Venture
An independent investigation commissioned by the City of Sacramento concluded that two Sacramento Fire Department captains improperly used their positions as firefighters in connection with the purchase, renovation and resale of the home of an elderly woman th…
Tenth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Constitutional Claims Against Colorado Springs Paramedic
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of federal constitutional claims brought against a Colorado Springs Fire Department paramedic and a Colorado Springs police officer arising from the 2022 death of a man experiencing a m…
Fire Law Roundup for July 6, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for July 6, 2026, Paul Doughty and Curt discuss a lawsuit filed by two former Clark County NV probationary firefighters alleging race discrimination; the dismissal of a suit brought by a firefighter against a police officer …
Nevada Firefighters Sue Clark County Alleging Race Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment
Two former probationary firefighters have filed suit in federal court against the Clark County Fire Department and the fire chief alleging they were subjected to race discrimination, a racially hostile work environment, and retaliation that culminated in their…
Federal Court Grants Qualified Immunity to Connecticut Police Officer in Fire PIO Arrest Case
A federal judge has ruled that a Connecticut police lieutenant who arrested a volunteer firefighter serving as his department’s Public Information Officer is entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit arising from the firefighter’s 2021 arrest for posting pho…
Nashville Man Seeks Court Order to Preserve Fire Department Records After Alleged Refusal of Transport and Medical Treatment Was Ignored
A Tennessee man has filed an emergency petition asking a Tennessee court to order the Nashville Fire Department, Nashville Police Department, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a Nashville restaurant to preserve evidence from an incident in which he all…
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley Sues Mayor Karen Bass for Defamation
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a defamation lawsuit against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, alleging that the Mayor repeatedly made false statements blaming Chief Crowley for decisions surrounding the January 2025 Palisades Fire in an ef…
Gary Fire Department Paramedic Alleges Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Gender Discrimination
A paramedic formerly employed by the Gary Fire Department has filed suit in federal court alleging that the department failed to stop months of sexual harassment, retaliated against her after she complained, and ultimately terminated her employment.
Fire Law Roundup for June 29, 2026
In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for June 29, 2026, Curt discusses the sentence handed down to a former Illinois emergency medical technician in connection with the 2022 positional asphyxia death of a patient; an FLSA suit brought by firefighters in Gilbert…
Illinois EMT Sentenced to Probation in Fatal Patient Restraint Case
A former Illinois emergency medical technician who pled guilty in connection with the 2022 death of a patient has been sentenced to time served plus two years of probation. The patient, 35-year-old Earl Moore Jr., was restrained and transported face-down. He d…
Federal Court Dismisses Arizona Firefighters’ FLSA Overtime Suit Without Reaching §207(k) Exemption Issue
A federal district court in Arizona has dismissed an overtime lawsuit brought by ten current and former members of the Gilbert Fire Department, concluding that the firefighters failed to adequately plead an overtime claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FL…
Fourth Circuit Affirms Judgment for Baltimore in Firefighter’s Race Discrimination Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has affirmed summary judgment in favor of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore in a lawsuit filed by Baltimore City Fire Department Lieutenant Mitchell Waters alleging race discrimination, hostile work enviro…
South Carolina Fire Chief Sues State Firefighters Association Over Statements Following Firefighter Fatality
Columbia-Richland Fire Department Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins has filed suit against the Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina and PFFSC President Roger Odachowski, alleging that statements published by the organization following a firefighter…
NASA Prevails in Discrimination Suit Brought by Contract Battalion Chiefs
Two battalion chiefs assigned to the fire department at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California have lost a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against NASA after a federal court concluded that NASA was neither their employer nor their join…