San Francisco fire leaders met behind closed doors yesterday to consider a proposed $6 million payout that could end a high-profile federal retaliation lawsuit brought by a former firefighter who says he was punished for pushing criminal charges over a violent off-duty attack.
The case, filed in 2023 by former firefighter Gabriel Shin, accuses top San Francisco Fire Department officials of retaliating against him after he pursued criminal charges against a colleague. The Fire Commission did not announce any decision after its closed-session talks, and any settlement would still need approval from the Board of Supervisors before it becomes final.
Commission Agenda Puts $6 Million On The Table
The department's public agenda lists the case as Gabriel Shin v. City and County of San Francisco and includes an item for the city to pay $6,000,000 in exchange for dismissing the claims, indicating the commission took up the matter at yesterday's meeting, as shown on the San Francisco Fire Department website. In a statement to NBC Bay Area, City Attorney's spokeswoman Jen Kwart said the office believes the proposed settlement is an appropriate resolution given the inherent costs of litigation. The commission did not report any outcome after adjourning its closed session.
Off-Duty Beating, Lawsuit And Alleged Retaliation
The lawsuit traces back to an off-duty attack on Feb. 1, 2022, outside Shin's Oakland home. Court records say colleague Robert Muhammad obtained Shin's address from the fire station, then hit him repeatedly with a heavy 15-inch hydrant spanner wrench, causing broken bones and a concussion, according to ABC7. Shin's federal civil rights complaint, filed in 2023, names then-Chief Jeanine Nicholson and other SFFD officials, and claims that supervisors pressured him to drop criminal charges and ordered him to stop cooperating with Oakland police. The suit also states that Shin was suspended without pay after the attack and ultimately left the department.
Judge Refused To Toss The Case
In February, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria rejected the city's attempt to have the case thrown out, finding there was plenty of evidence suggesting officials conspired to harass, pressure, and punish Shin, a ruling that kept the lawsuit alive and helped spur settlement talks, according to NBC Bay Area. The outlet reports that Shin's complaint also alleges the department hindered Oakland police by refusing to turn over Muhammad's photo and that Muhammad stayed on the city payroll for years before his criminal case was resolved through a mental-health diversion program. Those disputed allegations originate from Shin's court filings and local coverage of the case.
What Happens Next
If the Fire Commission recommends the settlement, the agreement will move to the Board of Supervisors for a final vote, following the path described in the commission agenda. Under department practice, the commission handles personnel and litigation issues in closed session and then makes recommendations to the Board in public. For now, city attorneys and San Francisco Fire Department leaders have not provided details beyond the dollar figure listed on the agenda, leaving the public to wait and see whether the city will cut a $6 million check to end the fight.
