The rising price for fire apparatus and replacement and repair parts, coupled with long delivery delays of necessary and life-saving equipment, have impacted fire departments nationwide. Now, lawsuits have been filed to address possible anti-competitive pricing practices by firetruck manufacturers and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA).
Dozens of localities across the country have filed individual complaints and class action lawsuits in federal courts against REV Group, Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing, and Rosenbauer America LLC. REV Group and Oshkosh manufacture equipment under various brand names. The complaints generally allege that due to artificially inflated prices and widespread production backlogs, communities across the country are being forced to keep aging equipment on their front lines long after recommended retirement dates, leaving communities and citizens compromised.
In April of this year, many of the cases were transferred for coordination and consolidation in federal court in Wisconsin. The lawsuits seek monetary damages and injunctive relief to restore competition in the market. If your county has purchased new fire equipment or parts in the last 10 years, you may wish to consider meeting with your legal counsel to review the options.
As previously reported, Virginia localities struggle to fully fund fire and rescue services across the state, especially in rural areas with declining populations. VACo urges the General Assembly to provide additional resources that would assist local governments with the recruitment, retention, training, and support of first responders such as law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel, and 9-1-1 dispatchers. VACo will continue to introduce and support legislative efforts that seek to achieve these goals and provide updates as the session progresses.
VACo Contacts: Julie Whitlock, Esq. and Jeremy R. Bennett