Fire Law Blog

The Circuit Court of Hanover County has issued a preliminary injunction against the Hanover County Fire & EMS Department who was seeking to discipline a firefighter for the off-duty use of medically-certified cannabis oil. The case was brought by Hanover County firefighter David Morath, who holds a valid written practitioner certification under Virginia’s medical cannabis program.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for November 3, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a wrongful death suit against Richmond County alleging and negligence stemming from the failure of firefighters at a nearby station to respond; the dismissal of several claims in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from the death of a Santa Barbara …

The families of two Georgia residents who died in an October 2023 house fire have filed suit against Richmond County and others, alleging wrongful death and negligence stemming from the failure of firefighters at a nearby station to respond.

A federal court has dismissed several claims in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from the death of a Santa Barbara County jail inmate who was injured in a traffic crash and later died from a pulmonary embolism. The suit was filed by the family of Luis Enrique Duron-Rodriguez, who was pursued by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies for speeding on August 31, 2023.

A California motorcyclist has filed suit against several public entities, including the San Bernardino County Fire Department, alleging that a fire truck damaged a water line and created roadway conditions that led to a serious crash. The case was filed earlier this month in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

A Tulsa woman has filed suit against the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Fire Department, alleging that a fire truck being driven “carelessly, negligently and recklessly” caused a collision that resulted in the death of her unborn child.

Today’s Burning Question: Since all reports, documents, and correspondence created or received by public employees in the performance of their work qualify as public records, and since emails and text messages qualify as correspondence, could a public employee’s text messages with his/her union representative about a work-related matter qualify as a public record that must be disclosed when duly requested?

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 27, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a suit by 5 California firefighters a fire department’s failure to investigate a hidden camera; a jury award of $500k to a Florida chief who was improperly forced to resign; an ADA suit filed by a former Nashville Fire Department …

Five emergency medical personnel assigned to El Cajon’s Heartland Fire & Rescue Station 8 have filed a lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court alleging they were secretly recorded in their bunkroom and that city and agency officials failed to investigate the misconduct.

A jury in St. Johns County, Florida returned a verdict in favor of former Fire Chief Scott Bullard, awarding him $500,000 after finding that the county breached his contract rights. Chief Bullard claimed that he was forced to resign from his position as fire chief for St. Johns County in October 2023.

A former Nashville Fire Department paramedic has filed suit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) arising from his treatment after reporting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Virginia Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a motorist injured in a crash with a Newport News fire department rescue truck, reinstating a jury’s finding that the firefighter was grossly negligent but ordering a new trial on damages. The case, Lee v. Carr (2025 Va. App. LEXIS 656), arose from a 2021 collision at …

A Houston firefighter has been charged with credit card abuse following allegations that he stole the credit card information of a fellow firefighter and attempted to use it to make online purchases. The firefighter is accused of using a coworker’s credit card information to attempt to buy approximately $650 worth of merchandise online.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 20, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by the Nassau County Supreme Court reversing the disciplinary suspension of a fire chief in NY state; the denial of a request by an FDNY EMS officer to seal portions of a prior court opinion that discussed her …

The Nassau County Supreme Court has reversed the disciplinary suspension of a fire chief in New York state. While the case itself is of little consequence outside of the department and individuals involved, it serves as a good example of the problems that can arise when the elements of due process are ignored in a disciplinary matter.

A federal judge has denied a request by an FDNY EMS officer to seal portions of a prior court opinion that discussed her disciplinary record. The ruling, issued October 15, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, came in a long-running discrimination and civil rights case involving FDNY’s promotional practices for EMS officers

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed a lower court ruling that granted disability pension benefits to a Chattanooga firefighter diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case centered on whether the firefighter’s traumatic experiences were “unexpected” within the meaning of the city’s pension policy.

A South Pasadena, Florida firefighter has filed suit against the City of South Pasadena and his labor union, alleging he was unlawfully ordered him to undergo a medical examination as a condition of continued employment, and then terminated in retaliation for complaining. Nathaniel Griffin filed suit against the city and IAFF Local 747.

The California Court of Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by former Guadalupe Fire Captain Ryan Mack, who alleged disability discrimination and retaliation under the state’s Fair Employment & Housing Act. The court ruled that Captain Mack did not suffer an adverse employment action when the city required him to undergo fitness-for-duty evaluations in 2022.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 13, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a decision by  Escambia County commissioners to send $18 million in unpaid EMS bills to collections; the termination of a Kentucky union president; the agreement to settle the 2 year old lawsuit brought by the IAFF against the NFPA over …