An individual’s decision to enter into the public service is admirable and deserving of the utmost respect. In the modern landscape, that decision carries consequences for the individual. Among those consequences are the varying ways in which an official’s job-related actions and determinations can be scrutinized, second-guessed and challenged. The Commonwealth Fire Officials Legal Defense Fund has been established, effective immediately, to address this rising and pressing need to provide focused legal support for fire chiefs and non-unionized officers and command staff personnel throughout Massachusetts.
Whether the official is in a large, medium or small agency, whether the official is a civil service employee or not, the CFO LDF exists both to provide preventative representation designed to avoid problems from arising and, when complex incidents do lead to such issues, ensure that fire officials are not left to navigate the legal system alone.
The CFO LDF is operational as of January, 2026. Armed with decades of experience representing public safety officials across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in high-stakes matters of all types, the attorneys of Vigliotti, Gambaccini & Akerson, P.C. have been retained to provide premier legal representation for non-unionized Massachusetts fire officials. As an additional benefit reserved for members of the CFO LDF, any member of the CFO LDF is entitled to receive discounted legal fees on any legal service provided by Vigliotti, Gambaccini & Akerson, P.C. that is not a matter covered by the CFO LDF. For example, a member of the CFO LDF who wishes to retain the services of Vigliotti, Gambaccini & Akerson, P.C. for work on an employment contract will receive a discount on the legal fees generally charged.
Should there be questions, please call the CFO LDF at (508) 735-7324 or email info@cfoldf.com.
Please find application as well as terms and conditions information. Applications and payments may be submitted electronically through the registration portal available at cfoldf.com. Alternatively, written applications with checks may be sent to:
Commonwealth Fire Officials Legal Defense Fund
P.O. Box 2348
4 East Central Street
Worcester, MA 01613