Idaho Firefighter Files Defamation Claim Against City

A volunteer firefighter is seeking $250,000 in damages from the city of Moscow in North Dakota over a recent hiring made within his department.

Kelvin Daniels took the first step toward filing a lawsuit against local government officials with a tort claim that alleges improper hiring practices, nepotism, defamation of character and retaliation against a whistleblower within city’s volunteer fire department.

The allegations stem from the recent hiring of a safety training officer at the agency.

Daniels alleges that Moscow fire chief Ed Button chaired a search committee to fill the position and passed over qualified candidates to instead favor the son of an administrator within the agency. Daniels claims the person selected was not only directly related to an administrator, but also unqualified for the position.