Promotions in the St. Louis Fire Department, on hold for four years, are expected to resume after a judge found in favor of more than 20 firefighters who claimed the city improperly blocked their advancement.
The 45-page ruling from St. Louis Circuit Judge Joseph Whyte, released New Year’s Eve, could cost the city more than $1.1 million to compensate the firefighters for lost wages since a February 2022 promotion freeze.
Whyte also slapped the city with the firefighters’ multi-year legal bill, writing that they were entitled to attorney fees because “there is sufficient evidence” city officials “engaged in intentional and reckless misconduct by unlawfully halting promotions.” Plaintiff attorneys are expected to file an estimate for those fees next week…