Legal Issues
James Muller’s widow cites poor communication, water overload from deck guns and inadequate training as key failures that led to her husband’s death
The new Federal Wildland Fire Service would consolidate USDA and DOI fire programs into one command under the Interior Department
You’ve got the requisite emergency response training, but do you have the knowledge to survive a lawsuit?
Former Bellingham firefighters alleged that a 2021 vaccine mandate violated their rights and caused emotional distress through a “scorched-earth” enforcement policy
A parked car blocked the nearest hydrant during a fire, leading to the first-ever criminal court summons for violating the 15-foot hydrant rule
Durham will no longer pay a settlement for a firefighter hiring test deemed unfair to Black applicants after the Department of Justice dropped its civil rights case against the city
Crowley formally challenges her removal by Mayor Karen Bass, setting up a city council vote on her reinstatement amid backlash from the firefighters’ union
On his first day, President Trump ordered federal agencies to end all “equity-related” grants and contracts, later mandating contractors to certify they don’t promote DEI
A judge sentenced the driver to seven years after he pleaded guilty in the wrong-way crash that killed off-duty Independence Firefighter/Paramedic Harold “Gene” Eddins
Former Miami-Dade firefighters face allegations of a cover-up after a deadly training exercise, with one falsely reporting to 911 that everyone was safe before admitting two were trapped
Three firefighters and 12 passengers were injured when the Brightline train struck a Delray Beach fire truck responding to an apartment fire
The Coast Guard determined the FDNY was at fault, finding excessive speed and inadequate lookout
FDNY
Lt. Nelson Seto called 911 reporting breathing trouble, but EMTs left when he didn’t answer the door; hours later, he was found dead
Learn the lesson when the action is just a mistake, not a tragedy
With most lawsuits stemming from within the FD, officers must learn to identify and manage the conflict-seeking members most likely to turn problems into litigation
The former Greenfield Township Volunteer Fire Department official faces 18 months in prison
The firefighter’s lawsuit also alleges that Hamilton Township officials mishandled her complaints and still lack door locks in bathrooms and changing areas in firehouses used by women
Authorities say the fire captain used his role as an EMT instructor to inappropriately touch students under the guise of medical assessments
Anthony Saccavino was one of two former chiefs in the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention charged with rushing improper requests to expedite inspections
Public safety leaders need to evaluate the impact of executive orders and policy pronouncements on their departments and communities
Here is an action plan for assessing the impact of the Trump administration’s temporary freeze on federally funded grants and a federal judge blocking that order
The new lawsuit accuses the city of knowingly endangering firefighters by disbanding the Code X-Ray program designed to flag hazardous abandoned structures
The church in Bryan remains open as the pastor contests a civil case requiring costly upgrades, including fire sprinklers, to meet city regulations for overnight stays
The investigation into alleged discrimination at Kansas City Fire Department ends, leaving questions about findings and timing under the Trump administration’s second term
Effective policies — and effective training to reinforce them — can make or break an agency
Burnsville Officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and Firefighter-Paramedic Adam Finseth were ambushed during a domestic disturbance
City attorneys are trying to have a FOIA case dismissed as survivors and victims’ families demand that air quality studies be released
Jan. 23, 2005, marked the first time since 1918 that FDNY members had died in separate calls on the same day
The new law eliminates provisions that reduced benefits for retired police officers, firefighters, teachers and other public servants, offering retroactive and future payment increases
Several Monroe Rural Protection Fire District firefighters resigned following Firefighter Roselyn Baker’s termination after she filed a complaint
The decision reinstates plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others involved in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, sparing them the death penalty
A new law to keep bystanders from interfering with first responders goes into effect in 2025
A judge ruled that the accusations as drafted did not support a reasonable inference that the fire department acted to harm the firefighters
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