Deputy Fire Chief’s case dismissed against WR

A federal judge has dismissed the Warner Robins deputy fire chief Bobby Wood’s age-discrimination lawsuit against the city of Warner Robins.

Last year Wood claimed that city officials made false claims about him as well as tried to force him into retirement. The lawsuit was filed in August of 2019 after an incident that took place in July of 2018 when Wood was placed on a two-week suspension after admitting to having had an alcoholic drink before responding to a structure fire.

Wood filed his lawsuit against the city and five different officials that included Mayor Randy Toms and Fire Chief Ross Moulton.

The incident happened on July 5, 2018 at the garage fire that took place off of Windsor Drive in Warner Robins. Moulton said there were two firefighters on the scene that suspected Wood had been drinking.

Wood responded to the scene in a departmental sport utility vehicle. After the firefighters questioned him, he left the scene. Moulton said it was brought to his attention, and when he questioned Wood, Wood initially denied having anything to drink.

Moulton then required Wood to take a blood alcohol test from the police department, which showed he had alcohol in his system. Wood, the next morning, admitted to having a drink before responding to the scene.

After consulting with the city attorney and human resources, Moulton said he gave Wood the maximum suspension. Wood has been a part of the department for 36 years, and prior to the incident, Moulton said he had a clean record.

On February 6, 2020, Federal Judge Tillman E. Self III stated in his dismissal order that under federal age-discrimination law, Wood could not sue individuals for age discrimination; he could only sue the city. Self also stated that Wood’s lawyer filed a “shotgun” complaint that applied all of his complaints against each of the defendants, “making it impossible to sort out who was responsible for what.”

Judge Self invited Wood’s lawyers to file an amended complaint within two weeks. Wood still remains as the deputy fire chief for Warner Robins Fire Department.

HHJ News