The Firehouse Lawyer Newsletter

Our Monthly Newsletter

The Firehouse Lawyer is a free newsletter that is published for educational purposes only, and has been published since 1997. Nothing in this newsletter shall create an attorney-client relationship between Joseph F. Quinn, P.S. and the reader. Those needing legal advice are urged to contact an attorney licensed to practice in their jurisdiction of residence. The following index is not listed chronologically, but alphabetically, and addresses matters related to the fire service. Those subjects with sub-topics may be allocated an entire row.

Search by topic or subtopic:

•  Affirmative Action
•  Age Discrimination
   Discriminatory Intent  Releases of Liability  The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
•  Americans with Disabilities Act
   "Disparate Impact" Treatment  "Qualified Individual with a Disability"  "Regarded as" Disabled  Absenteeism and Medical Exams  Amendments Act of 2008  Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFOQs)  Conditional Offers of Employment  Equivalent Positions  Indefinite Leave  Inquiries into Disabilities  Job Descriptions  No Individual Liability  Obesity  Pre-Employment Inquiries  Race Discrimination  Signs  The Duty to Accommodate  Who is an "Employee" under the Act?
•  Arbitration
   Arbitrability Defenses  Comparable Jurisdictions  Compulsory Arbitration and Title VII Claims  Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies  Interest Arbitration  Public Policy Concerns  Put Everything in Writing  The Deferral Doctrine  Vacation of Arbitration Awards
•  Benefit Charges
   Religious Organizations
•  Burn Permits
•  Business-and-Occupation Taxes
   Exemption for "Fire District Activities"
•  Cellular Site Leases
•  Chaplains and "Peer Support Group Counselors"
•  Charges for Emergency Medical Services
   Charging Non-Residents
•  Child Abuse
•  Civil Actions
   Attorney-Client Privileged Communications  Bystander Negligence  Claims Agents under RCW 4.96  Defamation  Emergency Scenes  Firefighter's Rule  Invasion of Privacy Claims  Involuntary Detention  LEOFF II Employees  Mutual Aid in Rural Fire Districts  Negligence Claims  No Cause of Action for Refusing to Re-hire  Non-Disparagement Clauses  Personal Liability and Indemnity  Privilege of "Peer Support Group Counselors"  Professional Rescuer Doctrine  Public Duty Doctrine  Reports as Evidence  Responding to Claims  Use of Personal Vehicles During Work  Volunteers May Sue for Negligent Injuries at Work  Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy
•  Collective Bargaining
   Bargaining Subjects  Civil Service  Garrity Rights  Joint Employers  Light Duty  Management Rights  Managing Labor Negotiations  Requests for Information  Retroactive Decrease in Benefits  Supplemental Pensions  The Right of Non-Association  Unilateral Changes
•  Commissioner Associations
•  Community Paramedicine
   Provision by Fire Districts and RFA's  Scope of Practice Issues
•  Consolidation
   Consolidation v. Merger
•  Contracts with Indian Tribes
•  Dating in the Workplace
•  Disability Leave Supplement: RCW 41.04.500
   Making the Employee Whole: Issues with Income Taxes  Promotional Examinations  Retirement Service Credits
•  Discipline and Discharge
   At Will Employees  Credit Checks  Free Speech  Garrity Rights  Last Chance Agreements  Layoffs v. Termination for Cause  Loudermill Hearings  Weingarten Doctrine  Wrongful Discharge Actions
•  Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace
   Marijuana and Drug Testing  Random Drug Testing
•  Elections
   Ballot Propositions  Counting Words in Ballot Titles  Recall Laws
•  Email and Internet
   Policies
•  Emergency Management Act : RCW 38.52
   Continuation of Government Functions  Grants
•  Fair Labor Standards Act
   "Off the Clock" Work  "Regular Rate"  "White Collar" Exemptions  207 (k) Exemption  Administrative Exemption  Applicability to Municipal Governments  Building Officials Exempt  Class Time  Compensatory Time  Computer Professionals Exempt  Confidential Employees and Bargaining Units  Delay in Payment  Establishing the Work Period  Fluctuating Workweeks  Hourly v. Salary Employees  Improper Pay Deductions  On-Call Pay  Partial Pay Docking  Pay Deductions for Safety Violations  Personal Activities  Preemption of State Law  Salary Basis Test  Shift Trades and Fill-ins  Sick Leave Buy-Back  Sleep Periods  State Immunity from Private FLSA Lawsuits  Training Time  Travel Time  Volunteers  What the FLSA Does Not Require
•  Family Medical Leave Act
   "Serious Health Condition"  Excessive Absenteeism  Family Leave for Military Members  General Issues  Health Care and COBRA  Medical Necessity  Notification of FMLA Rights  Physician Certification  Pregnancy  Qualifying for FMLA Leave  Waivers  Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave Act  When the Act Applies: 50 or more Employees
•  Federal Legislation and Regulations
   Fair Credit Reporting Act and the FTC  FICA for Paid Employees  Medicare and Medicaid  Social Security  Volunteers
•  Fire Commissioners
   Compensation  Decreasing Number of Commissioners  Ethics  First Amendment Concerns  Formulating and Implementing Policies  Incompatible Public Offices  Recall from Office  Signing Contracts  The Board and the Fire Chief
•  Fire Hydrants
•  First Amendment
   Discipline Based on Political Activism  Free Speech Rights of Public Employees  Retaliation for Exercising Free Speech Rights  Social Media Issues
•  Fourth Amendment
   Involuntary Detention for Evaluation and Treatment  Privacy in Office Conversations  Search and Seizure at Emergency Scenes  Videotaping in the Workplace  Workplace Searches
•  HIPAA
   Breach Notices  Charges for Copying Medical Records  Criminal Prosecution  General Issues  Health Care Information of Employees  Name and Address of Patients  Privacy Rule  Release of Photos  Ride-Alongs  Security Rule
•  Identity Theft
•  Impact Fees
   Capital Facilities Plans
•  Independent Contractors
•  Internal Revenue Service
   Taxability of Fringe Benefits
•  Job-Related Misconduct
   "Unprofessional Conduct" under 18.130.080  Drug Abuse  Psychological Exams
•  Labor Management Relations Act
•  Legislation of Interest
   "Substantially Career" Fire Departments  1999 Highlights  2004 Highlights  2007 Highlights  2016 Proposed Legislation  2017 Highlights  All-Risk Mobilization  Amendments to Death Benefits  Boundaries of Taxing Districts  Fire Insurance Premium Taxes  Highlights from 2005  Highlights from 2015  Interlocal Agreements  Military Leave Law  Multi-Year Lid Lifts  Public Bid Laws  Public Records Act and OPMA  Records Retention Schedules
•  Local Improvement Districts
   Formation and Special Assessments  LID's and CARES Programs
•  Medicaid and Medicare Billing
•  Mergers and Annexations
   Adjacency  Annexation by Cities  Annexation of Cities
•  Military Leave: RCW 38.40.060
•  Miscellaneous Financing Issues
   Issuance of Warrants
•  National Labor Relations Act
   "Concerted Activities"  Use of Email for Union Business
•  Negotiation Basics
•  Nepotism in Hiring
•  Open Public Meetings Act
   2022 Changes  Discussions  Executive Sessions; Scope  Facebook and Social Media  Final Actions Validating Previous Violations  Minutes of Board Meetings  Open Government Trainings Act  Quorums  Recall from Office for Intentional Violations  Scope of the OPMA; RCW 42.30.140  Study Sessions
•  Powers of Municipal Corporations
   "Ultra Vires" Actions  Changing Names  Delegation of Authority  Employment Contracts  General Powers of Fire Districts: RCW 52.12.021  Planning and Professionalism  Specific Powers of Fire Districts: RCW 52.12.031  Trademarks for Fire Departments
•  Property Taxes
   40% Validation Requirement for Excess Levies  Boundaries of Taxing Districts  Deflation  General Outline of Regular Property Tax Levies  Implicit Price Deflator  Initiative 695  Initiative 747 Struck Down  Multi-Year Lid Lifts  Payments In Lieu of Tax  Property Tax and Budget Resolutions  Protecting $.25 from Pro-Rationing: RCW 84.52.125  RCW 84.55.050 Ballot Titles  Tax Increment Financing
•  Public Bid Laws
   "Lowest Responsible Bidder"  "Piggybacking" on Another Agency's Bid  "Public Work"  Advertising  Bid Law Exceptions Under RCW 39.04.280  Electronic Data Processing and Telecommunications Systems  Fire District acting as general contractor: RCW 52.14.120 (2)  Joint Purchases of Engineering or Architectural Services  Oral Contracts  Ordinary Maintenance  Prevailing Wage Laws: RCW 39.12.020  Prudent Utility Management under RCW 52.14.110 (2)  Public Works Contract Claims  Purchase of Fire Engines  Purchase of Used Equipment  Purchasing at Auctions: 39.30.045  Small Works Rosters  Sole Source Exception  Unregistered and Unlicensed Contractors: RCW 39.06.010
•  Public Disclosure Commission
   Gifts Made to Local Government Officials  Signs on District Property  The Use of Public Funds
•  Public Employee Strikes
•  Public Records Act
   "Brief Explanation" Requirement: RCW 42.56.210 (3)  "Functional Equivalents" of a Public Agency  "Requests for Information"  Agencies Subject to the Act  Applicability to Interlocal Agencies  Backup Files  Call Logs  Charges for Copying Public Records  Giving the "Fullest Assistance"  Marijuana in Washington  Model Policy on Photos and Videos  Model Rules for the Public Records Act: WAC 44-14-00001  No Duty to Supplement Responses  Notice to Third Parties  Penalties for Bad Faith  Personal Electronic Devices  Personnel Files and Privacy  Personnel Investigations  Prompt Response Requirement  Providing Reasonable Estimates  Records Index  Requiring Written Requests  Responding that a Request is "Overbroad"  Work Product and Attorney-Client Privilege
•  Public Safety Sales Tax
•  Random Laws
   Federal Flag Code  Model Toxic Controls Act  RCW 24.60: The Intra-State Building Safety Mutual Aid System  Weight Limits of Fire Trucks
•  Records Retention
   "Transitory Records"  Destruction of Non-Archival Records  Electronic Records in Washington  General Records Retention Schedules  Photo-Release Policy
•  Regional Fire Authorities
   Adjacency  Expansion  Formation  Funding and Financing  Governance  Powers
•  Residency Requirements
•  Response Standards
•  Retirement Issues
   COBRA Benefits  Duty-Related Disability Retirement  LEOFF II "Employers" and State Contribution Law  Opting Into Medicare
•  Safety
   "Two-in Two-Out" Rule  "Unpreventable Employee Misconduct"  296-305 Requirements for Live-Structure Firefighting  Accident Investigations  Cell Phone Use Policies  Fireground Staffing Requirements  Meal Periods  OSHA Respiratory Protection Standards  Physical Fitness Standards for Firefighters  Response Times  Securing Emergency Scenes  Self Reporting  Workplace Violence
•  Same-Sex Harassment
•  State Auditor
   Audit Findings  Auditing Officers  Claims Agents and Filing  Response Times  Retroactive Pay Increases  Separating Accounts: RCW 43.09.210  Unconstitutional Gift of Public Funds
•  Surplus of Personal Property: RCW 39.33.020
•  Surplus of Real Property: RCW 39.33.020
•  Tax Increment Financing
•  Taxation of Governmental Functions
   Paying for Fire Hydrants
•  The Interlocal Cooperation Act: RCW 39.34
   Forming Non-Profit Corporations  Indexes of Interlocal Agreements  Issues with Merger and Consolidation  Issues with Separating Accounts under RCW 43.09.210  Separating Functions
•  The Washington Health Care Information Act: RCW 70.02
   Charges for Copying Medical Records  Mandatory Disclosures  Model Policies on Photo or Video at Emergency Scenes  Permissive Disclosures  Personal Representatives  Protective Orders  Requests from Attorneys  Subpoenas
•  Time Loss
   Structured Settlement Agreements
•  Title VII
   Retaliation Claims  Sex Discrimination
•  Unemployment Compensation
   Denial for Drug Abuse  Serious Misconduct  Voluntary Quit Exception
•  Unfair Labor Practices
   Drug Testing  Important PERC Decisions  Interference with Union Activities  Paid Time For Union Activities  Past Practice  Polygraph Testing
•  United States Supreme Court Opinions
   Americans with Disabilities Act  Constitutionality of Random Drug Testing  Defense of Marriage Act Invalidated  Fair Labor Standards Act  Freedom of Speech  Race Discrimination  Sexual Harassment  Suing in Federal Courts to Enforce FLSA rights
•  Veterans
   "Veteran" Defined  Leave during Deployments  USERRA Scoring Criteria in Hiring Veterans
•  Volunteering
   Eligibility for Benefits  Paid Firefighters and Volunteering  Residency Requirements  Use of Personal Vehicle During Work  Volunteer Fire Fighters Pension Act: RCW 41.24  Volunteering at Athletic Events  Workplace Injuries  Youth and Cadet Programs
•  Wage Claims
   Issues with Sick Leave  Special Penalties
•  Wage Rebates
•  Washington Collective Bargaining Act: RCW 41.56
   Civil Service Commissions  General Issues  Public Employee Strikes  Unfair Labor Practices
•  Washington Law Against Discrimination: RCW 49.60
   Hostile Work Environment  Perceived Disabilities and Prescription Drugs  Pre-Employment Inquiries: Questions Not to Ask  Pretext for Employer Action  Sexual Harassment  Sexual Orientation Discrimination  When WLAD Applies: Eight or More Employees
•  Washington Minimum Wage Act: RCW 49.46
   "On Call" Status
•  Washington State Environmental Policy Act: RCW 43.21C
   Authority of County or City to Impose Mitigation Measures  Requesting Notice under SEPA
•  Washington State Family Medical Leave Act: RCW 49.78
   When the Act Applies
•  Worker's Compensation and Industrial Insurance
   "Occupational Disease"  Classifications  Compensation under Volunteer Firefighters Pension Act  Exclusive Remedy  Independent Contractors