Sheila Kalina was a deputy sheriff for Cook County, Illinois. The Sheriff charged Kalina and three other deputy sheriffs with various infractions of departmental rules arising out of an incident where two male prisoners sexually assaulted a female prisoner. Kalina, who was working in the Markham courthouse, was charged with improperly allowing the male prisoners…
Juan Mata is a police officer with the City of Bangor, Michigan. Mata was injured when the police K-9 working with a Van Buren County deputy sheriff injured him during the arrest of a fleeing subject. Mata and his wife sued the County and the deputy sheriff, alleging that the County was liable as the…
A little-known feature of civil law is something known as the “Firefighter’s Rule,” sometimes referred to as the “Professional Rescuer Rule.” The Rule has different formulations in each state, but its essence is that firefighters and law enforcement officers are barred from bringing lawsuits against those whose conduct has injured them. The Rule has its…
On May 19, 2007, two fire trucks from the city of Waterbury, Connecticut were among other fire rescue vehicles responding to a report of a kitchen fire on Eastern Avenue in Waterbury. Joseph Fischetti operated Engine 12 while John Keane rode in the front passenger seat. William Mahoney operated Truck 1. As the two trucks…
On May 19, 2007, two fire trucks from the city of Waterbury, Connecticut were among other fire rescue vehicles responding to a report of a kitchen fire on Eastern Avenue in Waterbury. Joseph Fischetti operated Engine 12 while John Keane rode in the front passenger seat. William Mahoney operated Truck 1. As the two trucks…
Though several states have abandoned it, Ohio still follows what it refers to as the “fireman’s rule.” As Ohio phrases it, “the fireman’s rule is a principle that limits a landowner’s duty to police officers and firefighters in certain circumstances. It provides that an owner or occupier of private property can be liable to a…
