Legal Issues
The legal issues topic contains news and information about legal issues affecting EMS personnel, agencies or departments. Find the latest news from personnel misconduct, to disciplinary and harassment cases, to malpractice lawsuits, as well as advice to prevent legal action with EMS training, documentation and management.
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Shawn Johnson was dragged by a vehicle seven to 10 feet after responding to a call about a man with a medical condition inside of a car
Officials determined there was not enough evidence to convict EMT Kathleen Knecht in connection with the theft of drugs from an ambulance
Suzanne Grimes alleged that Sentara Healthcare fired her because she filed a complaint that her colleague made explicit comments about her body
The agency pleaded guilty to violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act by failing to properly keep track of their fentanyl and morphine stock
Terrence Skeen was charged with misdemeanor battery and assault after allegedly spitting on a 3-year-old and calling him a racial slur at Hooters
Officials said 11-year veteran EMT Colette Palmer allegedly hit the employee after getting into an argument
Danny Konieczny was transported to the hospital earlier in the day and said he stole the ambulance because he was not immediately seen
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Police believe there was an altercation in the area just before the shooting that was not related to the ambulance’s presence in the area
Sok Yi called dispatchers four times because someone threw away his clam chowder and another time to complain about the misdemeanor summons
Paramedic Tasha Starkey said her crewmate was assaulted because they parked “parallel” to the suspect’s car
“I would liken it to toxic gas inside that building,” Lt. Christopher Sullivan recalled when asked about the 108-degree conditions inside the Rehabilitation Center
Assistant Chief James Hawley was accused of intimidating a person in his office and placing his head on a woman’s buttocks during an exercise drill
Two paramedics received minor punishment for their roles in the delay
Frantz Petion, 25, was arrested and charged with rape, strangulation and an act in a manner injurious to a child
Former Detroit EMT Ann Marie Thomas faces up to a year behind bars when sentenced in April
Sara Longenberger told police she took the dog after overhearing two EMTs talk about harming it
EMT Sherry Baca is being sued for failure to provide adequate medical care in the 2016 death of Joseph Jaramillo
Former Detroit Fire Department EMT Ann Marie Thomas was fired after refusing to treat a baby despite being less than a mile away
Police said Cleveland EMS refused to send an ambulance because the victim drove across the city line
Kirsty Sharman pleaded guilty to the public order offense and was fined over $166 for leaving the note and swearing at paramedics
Paramedic Edwin Tweedy said he was passed over by the department for a spot on the rescue medic squad because of his age
Federal prosecutors said North East Mobile Health Services will settle to resolve charges that it billed Medicare for non-emergency transportation of patients
Samantha Rivera was sentenced to eight months of house arrest and five years of probation for using fake experience and credentials to get a nursing job
The video shows nurses failing to help administer aid to James Dempsey as he pleaded for help and laughing as they struggled to get his oxygen machine to work
The investigation into Hart to Heart Transportation Services was launched after a whistleblower filed a lawsuit alleging they falsified Medicare claims
The EMT is accused of sexually assaulting his colleague while she was passed out in the back of the ambulance
OSHA said that it opened a case looking into conditions at Brewster Ambulance after receiving a complaint about conditions affecting employee health and safety
