LRIS on 10/11/2024

No Anti-Union Animus In Fire District’s Refusal To Promote Union President

Captain Ryan Reese worked for Clark County Fire District 6 in Washington for 24 years and was the union president. On August 17, 2021, the District announced a promotional exam for battalion chief. Reese was ranked at the top of the promotional list, followed by Captain Scott Johns and Captain Jeff

LRIS on 10/11/2024

CO Union’s Right To Access Prison Facility Upheld in Arbitration

Teamsters Local 839 represents cor­rectional officers in the Franklin County Jail in Washington State. The CBA be­tween Local 839 and Franklin County Corrections provides that “the labor representative of the union may visit the work location of employees covered by this agreement at any reasonable

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Absolute Immunity For DA’s Brady Disclosure Of Unfounded Complaint

Crystal Harris is a 23-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. In 2014, Harris’ then-domestic part­ner reported her to the Department’s Internal Affairs Department (IAD) for abuse of authority, shortly after Harris accused him of sexually abusing her daughter. IAD investigated Harris and

LRIS on 10/11/2024

COs In Understaffed Prison Not Entitled To Extra Bathroom Breaks

Irma Leibas was a correctional of­ficer at the Cook County Department of Corrections (DOC) in Illinois. The Cook County jail is one of the largest pre-trial detention facilities in the United States, where violence is commonplace. Prior to her employment, Leibas was di­agnosed with several health is

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Union’s Refusal To Represent Member Terminated For DUI Does Not Violate DFR

Lee Rudowski was a firefighter for Superior Township, Michigan, beginning his employment in Janu­ary 2019. A year later, Rudowski was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Rudowski spoke with Lance Pierce, the president of his union, IAFF Local 3292, about his arrest. Pierce told

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Detective Fails To Allege First Amendment Retaliation

Brian Menge was a detective for the Highland Park Police Department in Michigan. Menge was terminated from employment and subsequently sued the City, resulting in a settlement. On April 3, 2023, at a televised City council meeting, council members discussed Menge and his potential re­turn to City em

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Terminated Police Chief To Proceed To Trial On Whistleblower Claims

Stephen Mattice is the former po­lice chief of Stafford City, Kansas. He was hired into that role in July 2018, just after the City hired two police officers with no prior experience. Mattice and the two rookie officers constituted the entire police force for the City. He was an at-will employee dur

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Award Precluding Overtime Work While On Paid Parental Leave Upheld

An employee (Grievant) of the Federal Bureau of Prisons had a child, and pursuant to the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, requested 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The Bureau granted his request. The Grievant submitted requests to work voluntary overtime on days he received paid parental leave. The

LRIS on 10/11/2024

Police Chief Lawfully Refused DA’s Order to Create Brady Disclosures

John Powell is the former chief of police of Glynn County, Georgia, and Brian Scott was Powell’s chief of staff. Both men were indicted for “willfully and intentionally” violating the terms of their oaths of office under a Georgia law criminalizing such conduct. The indictment alleged that Powell an

LRIS on 10/11/2024

CO’s Unemployment Appeal Dismissed

Caitlin Summers was a correctional officer employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections until her termination in December 2022. Summers filed a claim for unemployment benefits, which was denied when the Division of Employment Security determined that Summers was terminated for work-related mis

LRIS on 09/13/2024

New Hampshire Fails To Bargain Impact Of State Trooper Body Cameras

The New Hampshire Troopers Association is the exclusive bargaining representative for New Hampshire State Police. In October 2020, New Hampshire’s governor issued an executive order requiring state troopers to wear body worn cameras. In August 2021, Association representatives met with Peter Demas,

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Officer Who Resigned As Part Of Plea Agreement Not Eligible For RLEO Gun Permit

Michael Maudlin was a state trooper in New Jersey from 1987 until 2009. He left the State Police pursuant to an agreement with his employer. Maudlin agreed to plead guilty to alleged misconduct and retire in order to preserve his right to collect a pension. On August 12, 2021, Maudlin applied for a

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Non-Disparagement Clause In Settlement Agreement Deemed Unenforceable

Christine Savage, a sergeant who worked for the Neptune Township Police Department in New Jersey, filed a lawsuit in December 2013 accusing the Department of discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment. The parties ultimately entered a settlement in 2014, promoting Savage to sergeant and prov

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Court Refuses Class Action Suit For Pre- And Post-Shift Activities

Nicole McDaniel is an hourly employee of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC). McDaniel filed a wage and hour claim against the DOC and moved to certify a class of plaintiffs similarly aggrieved. McDaniel argued that the DOC improperly withheld payment from its employees, including her, by

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Employer’s Unilateral Recoupment Of Overpayments Reversed In Arbitration

The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association represents Protective Service Officers in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The parties negotiated a contract which included a shift differential of $0.25 per hour for the second shift (11 a.m. – 8 p.m.) and $0.50 per hour for the third shift (8 p.m. – 4 a.m.). Offic

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Termination Upheld For NJ Correctional Officer Involved In Domestic Dispute

Jillian Baron was hired by the Hudson County Department of Corrections (DOC) in 2015 as a correctional officer. From 2016 to 2021, Baron was romantically involved with Sergeant Alfredo Castro, who was married for the duration, though they lived separately for a portion of that time. Baron and Castro

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Union’s Agreement To MOU Does Not Breach DFR

Hubert Gilmore is a black corrections officer employed by Benton County in Washington and represented by Teamsters Local 839. In June 2022, the County and Local 839 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) modifying the CBA between the parties to increase corrections officers’ shifts from eight ho

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Court Upholds Reversal Of Arbitration Award Denying Bereavement Leave

Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 258 (PBA) and the County of Ocean in New Jersey are parties to a CBA entitling police officers to bereavement leave. The relevant provision states “Employees shall receive up to three days in the event of the death of a spouse, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-

LRIS on 09/13/2024

Officer Failed To State Claim Against Former Employer Which Issued Brady Letter

Andrew Kressin was a police officer in the City of Madison, Wisconsin. After the police department received a complaint that Kressin responded inappropriately to a domestic abuse call, he was investigated by officer Tracie Jokala of the Internal Affairs unit. Kressin voluntarily resigned before the