November 19, 2021 | Press Releases JUDGE REINSTATES FIREFIGHTER CITING RACIAL BIAS IN HIS EXPULSION Uniondale, NY – November 19, 2021 Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan ordered the reinstatement of Jensen Thomas as a firefighter for the Garden City Park Water/Fire District. The Court found that dismissing Thomas from the Department was so disproportionate to his offenses as to “be shocking to one’s sense of fairness.” The Court also noted that Thomas was one of only two firefighters of color, and was subjected to harassment including being called “Obama” by an ex-chief of the department. The Court also found that other firefighters had done similar actions as Thomas, including causing minor damage to District property, but were not disciplined. E. Christopher Murray of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek represented Thomas and stated that while “Long Island volunteer fire departments provide a valuable service, they are still required to treat their members fairly”. Thomas stated he was “very happy to be reinstated and looks forward to continuing to serve his community”. A copy of the decision in Jensen Thomas v. Garden City Park Water/Fire District, et al. is attached. For more information please contact E. Christopher Murray, (516) 663-6515, emurray@rmfpc.com. For over 50 years, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., headquartered in Uniondale, has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading providers of innovative legal services. Its attorneys are practical, experienced advocates who measure their success by their clients’ success. Cornerstone groups in all major practice areas of the law are represented at the firm, including corporate and securities, corporate restructuring & bankruptcy, commercial lending, commercial litigation, intellectual property, health care, real estate, employment, not-for-profit, cybersecurity and data privacy, energy, and trusts and estates. Clients include large and mid-sized corporations, privately held businesses, institutions and individuals. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES PRINT PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE Select Month November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 April 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 April 2009 February 2009 December 2008 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 March 2005 January 2005 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 February 2004 January 2004 Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. East Tower, 15th Floor, 1425 RXR Plaza Uniondale, NY 11556-1425 516.663.6600 Disclaimer • Statement of Client’s Rights • Statement of Client’s Responsibilities • Attorney Advertising This website endeavors to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and has been built using code compliant with W3C standards for HTML and CSS.