| Description | Volume_Issue | Year | Month | PDF |
| Today we take note of an extremely importance case clarifying management rights; take further notice that the Committee on Fire Service Organization and Deployment of the NFPA recently abandoned an attempt to adopt minimum national fire response standards; a FLSA update clarifying issues with comp time and the “salary basis” test; unemployment compensation and serious misconduct; and then we address the ability of fire commissioners to decrease the number of commissioners on the board. | 01-05 | 1997 | 8 | v01n05aug1997.pdf |
| The First Amendment comes into play with fire commissioners in various circumstances, and we consider that here, along with other considerations involving fluctuating workweeks being found NOT to violate FLSA; a case in which a workplace search was found reasonable; the legal distinctions between layoffs and termination for cause; an overtime exemption for computer professionals under FLSA; and finally, we consider pay deductions for safety violations under FLSA. | 02-02 | 1998 | 2 | v02n02feb1998.pdf |
| Today we discuss an all-important topic in the fire service: the proper formulating and implementing policies; we then consider some NFPA regulations related to hazardous areas and control of the fire-ground; finally, we answer a question about incident command from down under…Australia! | 02-05 | 1998 | 5 | v02n05may1998.pdf |
| This article addresses social security issues, and legislative changes in the multi-year "lid lift" and fire-commissioner compensation laws. | 07-05 | 2007 | 5 | v07n05may2007.pdf |
| This issue was published in 2008 and features an article about an ethics code for fire commissioners. | 08-06 | 2008 | 6 | v08n06jun2008.pdf |
| This article touches on the 2009 annual Washington Fire Commissioners Association Conference and the issues that were discussed and presented on there. | 09-10 | 2009 | 10 | v09n10oct2009.pdf |
| Here we consider the doctrine of "incompatible public offices", which is a rule that a public official cannot hold two offices simultaneously that are inconsistent with each other, or conflict; we also examine a case reversing the decision of an arbitrator because the decision was against public policy. | 10-01 | 2010 | 1 | v10n01jan2010.pdf |
| Multiple items are covered this month: charging non-residents of a fire district for EMS; an upgrade in fire-commissioner compensation; the U.S. Supreme Court's invalidation of the Defense of Marriage Act, and issues with the excess-levy laws. | 11-02 | 2013 | 9 | v11n02sep2013.pdf |
| Contracts for services are an under-utilized alternative to the property tax, and we discuss this today, as it pertains to contracts with housing authorities; we also discuss a new bill impacting Medicaid fraud investigations in Washington State; the doctrine of incompatibility of public offices; our potential new business model; and finally, we have our Safety Bill, discussing deadlines for training under WAC 296-305. | 15-05 | 2017 | 5 | May2017FINAL.pdf |
| This is a hot issue, no pun intended: The Washington Public Employment Relations Commission recently delivered a crucial decision governing when minimum staffing is a mandatory subject of bargaining; the Washington Supreme Court rendered an opinion governing when neglectful actions may constitute a "violation of the oath of office" for purposes of a recall petition; finally, we shed light on a very important decision from a Washington Court of Appeals pertaining to when the Washington Constitution provides an exemption from the Public Records Act disclosure requirements. | 15-11 | 2017 | 11 | November2017FINAL.pdf |
| The Firehouse Lawyer considers the importance of privacy in the context of health care information; we also discuss potential changes to the bid laws that would impact various public agencies, disability retirement, WPFMLA leave requirements, defamation law, and the concept of "unilateral change" in labor law. | 17-03 | 2019 | 4 | MarchApril2019.pdf |
| Today we discuss the highlights of all of the 2019 issues of the Firehouse Lawyer. Happy New Year! | 17-12 | 2019 | 12 | December2019FINAL.pdf |
| We should begin 2020 with a discussion of the roles and responsibilities of fire commissioners and fire chiefs, and how these two separate entities must "stay in their own lanes" to establish the goals of the agency: This article can be applied to any public agency having a "governing body" and a "CEO"; we also discuss certain Public Records Act cases and the "deferral doctrine" of the Public Employment Relations Commission. | 18-01 | 2020 | 1 | January2020FINAL.pdf |
| Today we consider the liability implications of employing unvaccinated personnel and a case involving the "non-delegation" doctrine. | 19-08 | 2021 | 9 | AugustSeptember2021FINAL.pdf |
| Today we comment on pending legislation relating to the 1% lid and its likelihood of passage. We also discuss bid challenges and the seconding of motions | 21-02 | 2023 | 2 | February2023FINAL.pdf |
| This issue considers a recent court case filed by a Native American Tribe against a Washington State Regional Fire Authority and the issues it presents; we also discuss issues surrounding the formation of commissioner associations, and a change in the standard for "undue hardship" in religious discrimination cases. | 21-07 | 2023 | 7 | July2023.pdf |
| Our lead article today discusses tax increment financing in even more detail; we also discuss a First Amendment case, and issues related to fire-commissioner compensation, eminent domain, lien claims and contractor bonds. | 22-01 | 2024 | 1 | January2024FINAL (2).pdf |
| Today we discuss a very important Title VII opinion from the US Supreme Court. We also analyze the concept of commissioner districts, and consider a new case related to the public duty doctrine. We also discuss the importance of trees in the civl-litigation context. | 22-06 | 2024 | 6 | June2024FINAL.pdf |
| Our lead article today discusses tax increment financing in even more detail; we also discuss a First Amendment case, and issues related to fire-commissioner compensation, eminent domain, lien claims and contractor bonds. | 22-1E | 2024 | 1 | January2024FINAL.pdf |