Firefighters’ lawsuit dismissed (NM, they sued over doing their job)

It was important that this lawsuit be dismissed. Otherwise, a firefighter or EMS responder could sue for actual or emotional pain and suffering just for performing their job.

I went to a presentation by the Carlsbad Fire Chief a couple of weeks ago where he made it abundantly clear what the ramifications would be if the lawsuit was sucessful. A firefighter or EMS person responding to an auto accident who was traumatized by seeing an injured child, for example, could sue the person responsible for the accident. 9/11 police and firefighters could sue the government or WTC owners for similar reasons. He reported that more than one person in the small city of Carlsbad had told him that they would think twice about calling for emergency assistance if those responding could sue them. However, he also stated that someone who deliberately created a public hazard (e.g storing explosives in a building that subsequently caught on fire and did not notify authorities at the start of the fire) might be liable under other laws. He also reported that this case was being watched nationwide because of the possible implications mentioned above, and that most professional and volunteer firefighter/ems personnel he had spoken with were aghast that fellow brothers would sue over this.

As a firefighter, I say "A POX" on those sniveling whiners.

Obivously Democrats. Wah wah. If you can't handle the stresses quit your job.

I've handled many car wrecks, fatalities, fires etc... and never once thought I should sue someone because of it.

Yeah.. some of them were stressfully hard. That's what friends, wives, and fellow firefighters and are there for.

At worst you go talk to a Critical Incident Counselor.

But file a lawsuit? Get a freakin' life you babies.

They make me feel ashamed of being a firefighter.

Agree 100 percent.

This is exactly the response the Chief has been hearing from the majority of emergency services personnel he has talked to. Apparently he is in demand as a speaker both because of the magnitude of the incident in a small community and because of the actions of some of the firefighters (after the slime lawyers in ABQ got to them).

At the presentation I was at, the audience was mainly firefighter/ems personnel from nearby city and volunteer departments. The chief was quite candid in telling them exactly what you said -- you understand the risks of the profession when you sign up and become one. I'm sure people become firefighters for different reasons (everything from its a job to helping people to excitement, I suppose). But they all know it is dangerous and you can put your own life at risk saving lives and property of others.

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