Fire Law Blog

The former Seattle Fire Department Human Resources Director has filed suit against the city, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, and Public Safety Civil Service Commission Director Andrea Scheele, alleging whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, and public records violations.

An Ohio developer has filed suit against the City of Youngstown, alleging that the city violated its constitutional rights when the fire chief ordered the demolition of a commercial building without prior notice or an opportunity to be heard.

The City of Atlantic City has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a long-running lawsuit brought by firefighter Alexander Smith, resolving claims that the Atlantic City Fire Department violated federal law by refusing to allow him to wear a beard as an expression of his Christian faith.

A female firefighter with the Big Bear Fire Authority has filed a civil suit alleging sex-based discrimination and failure to prevent discrimination under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. Brittania Huether filed suit against the Big Bear Fire Department and the Big Bear Fire Authority.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 12, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a state court lawsuit filed by a Lynchburg, VA firefighter after her federal lawsuit was dismissed; the settlement of an FLSA overtime lawsuit filed by single-role EMS personnel with the Fredericksburg Fire Department; a $3.25 million settlement with the family …

A long-running dispute involving a Lynchburg firefighter has returned—this time in state court—following a Fourth Circuit decision last year that reopened the door for certain claims to proceed outside federal court.

A federal wage-and-hour lawsuit filed by single-role EMS personnel with the Fredericksburg Fire Department has been resolved through a negotiated settlement. The case was brought by EMS employees who alleged the City violated the FLSA by failing to pay overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per week.

The city of Southfield, Michigan, has agreed to a $3.25 million settlement with the family of Timesha Beauchamp, resolving litigation arising from an August 23, 2020, emergency response in which she was mistakenly pronounced dead by fire and EMS personnel, yet later found alive at a funeral home.

The City of Jackson, Michigan, has agreed to pay $85,000 to settle a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by Annie Wallen, the Jackson Fire Department’s first female firefighter. The settlement resolves claims Wallen brought under federal and state civil rights laws arising out of her employment with the department.

A federal judge in the Northern District of California has dismissed a pro se lawsuit brought by a property owner against the City of Marina, its fire department, and several city officials, arising out of code enforcement actions taken against multiple properties he owned in the city.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for January 5, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling upholding the dismissal of a suit brought by a Boston firefighter seeking to stop the city from terminating him; an appellate decision upholding a trial court order requiring a Pennsylvania fire company to turn over its apparatus and …

The Massachusetts Appeals Court has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Boston firefighter Casley Bailey seeking to halt disciplinary proceedings that ultimately resulted in his termination. Bailey filed suit in Superior Court seeking to stay the Boston Fire Department’s ongoing disciplinary action against him.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has affirmed two trial-court orders in a dispute between Tobyhanna Township and the Tobyhanna Township Volunteer Fire Company concerning ownership and control of fire apparatus, equipment, and firehouses following the fire company’s decision to withdraw from official service in the township.

In this edition of Fire Law VLOG, we review the five most important cases of 2025, and the top five YCMTSU stories of 2025. Also discussed is a novel that will be released in 2026, titled The Judgment Line. Stay tuned for more details. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, safe and productive New Year!!!

A deputy fire chief with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District has filed suit alleging disability-based harassment, failure to investigate, and failure to prevent discrimination, all in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The suit was filed by BC Ty Bailey against the district and unnamed defendants.

The former fire chief of Cambria has reached a $200,000 settlement with the Cambria Community Services District stemming from his 2023 termination. The settlement was unanimously approved Monday by the district’s five-member board.

A firefighters’ local in Conroe, Texas, has filed suit against the city after officials rejected a petition seeking to place collective bargaining on the ballot. Conroe Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2731, gathered 3,650 signatures in support of a ballot measure to allow a vote on granting firefighters collective bargaining rights.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for December 29, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a ruling upholding a Kentucky city’s residence rule; a discrimination suit files by a Kansas City MO fire captain; a wrongful death suit filed against a Florida fire department for performing CPR on an 87-year-old woman with a pace-maker; a …

The Kentucky Supreme Court has concluded that a residency requirement imposed by the city of Paducah on its firefighters does not violate a state law prohibiting "emergency medical service first response provider" from having a residency requirement on its firefighters. The decision affirmed summary judgment in favor of the City of Paducah and upheld the city’s firefighter residency ordinance.

A Kansas City, Missouri, fire captain has filed suit against the city alleging race discrimination, associational discrimination, and retaliation under the Missouri Human Rights Act. The suit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court and seeks damages and equitable relief.