A Former Fire Department Employee Will Receive $250,000 After Accusing the Chief of Nepotism
Banks Fire Chief Rodney Linz and Fire District No. 13 will pay $250,000 to settle a federal whistleblower lawsuit filed by their former longtime executive assistant who raised concerns about the chief appointing his daughter to become a volunteer firefighter despite her failure to meet basic qualifications, including having a driver’s license.
Linz had the district hire his daughter in June 2016 and sent her to work as part of a team to help fight the November 2018 Camp fire in Paradise, California, despite her “lack of knowledge,” essential skills or experience fighting wildfires, according to the lawsuit filed by Linda Hedlund.
The chief and fire district must pay $115,000 to Hedlund, plus $135,000 to cover her attorney fees, according to a settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez this week. They fired Hedlund in 2019, ending her 24-year career for the district.
