A former Sarasota County firefighter has filed suit alleging the county violated federal and state disability-discrimination laws when it terminated him while he was recovering from two work-related shoulder injuries.
Firefighter/EMT Kenneth Tuggle filed suit against Sarasota County in US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The suit alleges failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act. According to the complaint, Tuggle had approximately 22 years of service when he was terminated on June 20, 2025.
Tuggle injured his left shoulder on duty in November 2022 and his right shoulder in late 2023. Both injuries were accepted as workers’ compensation claims, and the department placed him on light duty…