All,
This judgement occurred yesterday 8/31/2026.
PLEASE…this is a case for every Fire Officer, Chief & Incident Commander (and those who may initially have command) to study and understand. This LODD and the legal ramifications are considered as “required” studying-and rightfully so. BUT this is not just about lawsuits-although a harsh reality. This is to understand the no-nonsense, immense responsibility and accountability we have to our personnel, their families, the public and all that goes along (before incidents-including disciplined training, clear operating policies/guidelines as well as during incidents) with being a Fire Officer, Chief of Incident Commander.
We also have a link below to an excellent WEBINAR where the families attorney reviews the case-please take time to watch that.
JUDGE UPHOLDS JURY’S FIREFIGHTER LODD VERDICT
August 31, 2026 at 2:54 pm CDT
A Whiteside County (Illinois) judge has upheld a jury’s finding that the city of Rock Falls is financially liable for the death of Sterling Fire Lt. Garrett Ramos, who died in a basement while fighting a house fire in December 2021.
But when making that ruling Monday, Whiteside County Circuit Court Judge James Heuerman said he was reducing the initial $31.5 million award by $3 million, bringing the verdict to $28.5 million – pending the widow’s acceptance of the reduction.
The ruling rejects every legal argument the city and former Rock Falls Fire Chiefs Cris Bouwens and Ken Wolf offered to escape liability. Heuerman found that the defendants forfeited their strongest defenses by failing to present them to the jury during trial, and that the jury’s verdict was supported by the evidence.
Brittney Ramos, the firefighter’s widow, filed the lawsuit in December 2022. She has 30 days to decide whether to accept the $3 million reduction. If she rejects it, a new trial will be held – but only to determine damages. If she accepts, the current stay on the judgment will be lifted, and Rock Falls would be faced with paying $28.5 million.
WHAT OCCURED AT THAT FIRE:
Ramos, 38, was a Lieutenant with Sterling Fire Department. On the night of Dec. 3, 2021, he turned out to a house fire on Ridge Road in Rock Falls as part of a mutual-aid crew assisting the Rock Falls Fire Department.
Around midnight, while fighting the fire inside the home, Ramos fell through a hole in the floor into an undetected basement. He issued two mayday calls, but incident commander Bouwens and other command officers did not know who was calling, where he was, or what the problem was. They initially identified another Firefighter as the missing person; when that firefighter was found safe, no one pursued the mayday calls further.
About 30 minutes later, Firefighters realized Ramos had not been seen and began searching. They found him in the basement in a room adjacent to where he fell. Fire investigators concluded he survived roughly 17 minutes after the fall and died from asphyxia after running out of air. His body was recovered at 1:13 a.m. on Dec. 4.
MUCH MORE ON THE JUDGE’S AUGUST 31, 2026 DECISION HERE:
WATCH: ON DEMAND WEBINAR
This on-demand session analyzes the tragic Line-of-Duty Death (LODD) of Lt. Garrett Ramos of the Sterling (IL) FD following the above discussed (Judge Upholds Jury Award) structure fire. The incident led to the above discussed civil lawsuit and a $31.5 million verdict (updated as noted above) against the city of Rock Falls, marking the largest Firefighter LODD verdict in U.S. history.
WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE:
https://one.lexipol.com/l/
SOUND LIKE BEGGING?
If it sounds like we are practically begging Firefighters, Company Officers, Chiefs along with ANYONE who may potentially be an IC to read the case and watch the webinar-we are.
Rest assured that NO ONE involved in the tragic Line of Duty Death of Lt Ramos “meant” for this to occur-not at all. But it happened and there is so much everyone of us can learn from-and have reinforced as these are real world consequences that have impacted everyone involved-the Firefighters, Fire Officers and Chiefs…and especially the Ramos family.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 9/1/2026-0800 Hours
