Fire Law Blog

A former paramedic with the Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District in Colorado has filed suit alleging sex discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Jennifer Hogestad claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment after reporting discriminatory comments.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has rescinded its 2012 enforcement guidance governing how employers consider arrest and conviction records in hiring and other employment decisions. The action takes effect immediately and represents a significant change in federal enforcement policy concerning criminal background checks.

Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has filed a Notice of Tort Claim against the city, alleging that the fire department's response to a July 27, 2026 fire caused more than $1.5 million in property damage and business losses. The casino alleges that firefighters were grossly negligent in their handling of the incident, resulting in extensive water damage when a pipe burst during firefighting operations.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 2, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a decision rejecting the claims of a slip-and-fall victim outside a public school who argued a fire department incident report satisfied the notice requirements of the District of Columbia’s tort claims statute; the removal of a police sergeant who had …

A volunteer fire company in Rockland County, New York, has filed suit against the Monsey Fire District and its five fire commissioners, alleging that the district retaliated against the company and its members for challenging district policies.

A federal magistrate judge in Oklahoma has recommended suppressing evidence discovered during a post-fire investigation of a residence, concluding that federal prosecutors failed to establish that the warrantless search was justified under the Fourth Amendment.

A Florida police officer has been separated from his department following an incident in which he repeatedly used a Taser on a man reportedly experiencing a medical emergency and became involved in a verbal confrontation with an EMS employee. Video of the October 25 incident circulated on social media, prompting an investigation by the Chattahoochee Police Department.

The Town of Brownsburg, Indiana has agreed to pay $465,000 to settle an FLSA lawsuit brought by current and former members of the Brownsburg Fire Territory over unpaid overtime and the improper calculation of their regular rates of pay.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a First Amendment retaliation lawsuit brought by two Manhattan Beach, California fire captains who claimed city officials retaliated against them for participating in a vote of no confidence against a former fire chief.

A federal judge in Washington, DC has ruled that a woman who was injured in a slip-and-fall accident outside a public school cannot rely on a fire department incident report to satisfy the notice requirements of the District of Columbia's tort claims statute.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 26, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss counterclaims brought against a Wisconsin city who sued local companies for PFAS related matters because the city’s fire department admitted using AFFF in a prior suit; a public records suit brought by Alabama Professional Firefighters Association against Huntsville over records …

The City of Wausau, Wisconsin, is facing counterclaims from several industrial companies it sued over PFAS contamination of its drinking water. The companies contend that the city itself bears responsibility for the contamination, relying on allegations Wausau made in an earlier lawsuit against the manufacturers of firefighting foam.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama has filed suit against the City of Huntsville and Fire Chief Howard McFarlen, alleging the city violated the Alabama Open Records Act by refusing to release records concerning possible contamination of breathing air used by Huntsville firefighters.

A federal judge has ruled that fourteen DC firefighters may proceed with their disability accommodation claims arising out of a departmental grooming policy that prohibited certain facial hair. The ruling allows the firefighters to pursue claims under the ADA and the DC Human Rights Act.

A former Tennessee battalion chief has filed suit against the Town of Collierville and the town administrator, alleging he was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns with the mayor about fire department leadership, workplace harassment, and employee safety.

An Oregon firefighter has filed suit against Columbia River Fire & Rescue claiming the district violated state law by failing to award him disabled veterans' preference points during a lieutenant promotional examination. Steven Raichel filed suit in US District Court for the District of Oregon.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 19, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by the Georgia Supreme Court striking down a fire protection fee as an illegal tax; the dismissal of a negligence claim against the Los Angeles County Fire Department arising out of a response to an auto accident; a …

The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that a fire protection fee imposed by Chatham County was actually an illegal property tax, upholding a lower court ruling requiring the county to refund more than $30 million to property owners.

A California superior court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Fire Department and one of its paramedics over allegations that delays in treating and transporting a seriously injured accident victim resulted in permanent brain damage. The court concluded that fire department personnel complied with the applicable standard of care and that …

The Arizona Attorney General has filed suit against the City of Tolleson, challenging a policy that requires firefighters to repay $15,000 in training costs if they leave the department within three years of being hired. The suit alleges that the repayment requirement is an unlawful penalty that effectively prevents firefighters from leaving for better-paying jobs.