California Fire Chiefs Withdraw Lawsuit Over EMS Statute

                 

As a result of the recent dismissal of a complaint by AmeriCare Ambulance by the U.S. District Court regarding anti-trust issues in Orange County (CA), the California Fire Chiefs' Association has now withdrawn a complaint it filed in federal court on January 18, 2017. The new complaint alleged violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act by California EMS Authority officials. EMS Authority Director, Dr. Howard Backer, and Chief Deputy Director, Dan Smiley, were named as defendants.

 

In November 2015, the Fire Chiefs had filed a previous lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to resolve a long-standing dispute over interpretation of lawmakers' intent regarding anti-trust protection for cities and fire districts that were providing emergency medical services prior to enactment of California's EMS Act in 1980. In that case, the defendants' motion to dismiss was granted by the District Court on December 26, 2016.

 

CFCA's complaints and the Court's ruling can be found below: