Like their colleagues in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Chicago, firefighters in Buffalo believe there's a link between hearing loss and the sharp, piercing sounds of the sirens that accompany them to fires.
But four years later, the lawsuits they filed against the siren maker are ending and no one on either side is claiming victory.
The suits, filed by nearly 190 Buffalo firefighters, claim Federal Signal Corp. “knew or should have known” their sirens were harmful. The suits sought an unspecified amount in damages for each of the firefighters named.
In July, the suits against the siren maker started ending as part of an agreement between the two sides, but lawyers on both sides have repeatedly declined comment.
There is also no indication in court papers that firefighters received any compensation.