Firefighter plans to sue Marion County over reported hazing incident

PEACEFULLY. BACK TO YOU, JESSE. ALL RIGHT, TOM, THANK YOU. NEW TONIGHT. WE’RE LEARNING. THE FIREFIGHTER DETECTIVES SAY WAS THE TARGET OF HAZING IN MARION COUNTY. PLANS TO SUE THE COUNTY. CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWS THE MOMENT IN QUESTION. INVESTIGATORS SAY FOUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS ENGAGED IN HAZING ACTS AGAINST KALYN STEWART THAT INCLUDED WATERBOARDING AND HITTING HIM WITH HIS OWN BELT. THOSE FOUR FIRST RESPONDERS WERE CRIMINALLY CHARGED. ANOTHER SIX EMPLOYEES WERE FIRED FROM THE FORCE. WE SPOKE TO STEWART’S ATTORNEY ABOUT THE LEGAL ACTION THEY PLAN TO TAKE. WE HAVE GONE AHEAD AND PLACED THEM ON NOTICE THAT WE INTEND TO SUE THEM UNDER THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY PROVISIONS IN FLORIDA LAW. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT’S A SIX MONTH WAITING PERIOD. AND DURING THAT, THAT’S BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY FILE SUIT. WE’VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION AND RESPOND TO THE ALLEGATIONS. AND IF WE CAN’T RESOLVE IT IN THAT WINDOW, THEN WE CAN PROCEED WITH A CIVIL ACTION. IN THE ATTORNEY’S LETTER OF INTENT, HE SAYS, QUOTE, MARION COUNTY WAS NEGLIGENT IN FAILING TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY, SAFE AND OR NON-DANGEROUS WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR KANE STEWART AT MARION COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND SUCH NEGLIGENCE IS THE SOLE AND LEGAL CAUSE OF HIS INJURIES. TO TREAT A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD ALL GOOD INTENTIONS TO TRY TO COME IN AND SERVE HIS COMMUNITY IN THIS FASHION IS, YOU KNOW, JUST BEYOND THE PALE. AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WESH TWO REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY FOR COMMENT, AND THEY TOLD US THEY DO NOT DISCUSS