ELKHART, Ind. -- According to documents from Elkhart Circuit Court, Elkhart firefighter Jason Lantz is suing the City of Elkhart Fire Merit Commission following disciplinary action he received for alleged misconduct.

A hearing before the Merit Commission was held on Aug. 22 that lasted more than 9 hours. The initial recommendation presented to the Commission was to terminate Lantz's employment for violating several Indiana Codes. Ultimately, the commission decided to bar Lantz from serving in a paramedic capacity.

In his opening statement, Deputy City Attorney Kevin Davis said Lantz has created an unsafe and hostile environment for nurses at Elkhart General Hospital, accusing him of preying on nurses using his position.

Multiple employees at Elkhart General Hospital testified about their interactions with Lantz, including via messaging apps and texts. Multiple testified that Lantz has intimidated them on at least one occasion.

On Nov. 6, 2024, after midnight, Lantz entered the emergency room at Elkhart General Hospital through the ambulance door.

Lantz used a key code to access the ambulance door. He was off duty and in street clothes.

Lantz said he was there to visit a female friend who'd just been admitted following a car crash.

Documents state when he entered, he encountered a nurse he knew. The two spoke briefly, which led to the nurse becoming annoyed, according to Lantz.

After he left, documents stated the nurse complained to hospital security that Lantz had used the ambulance door to enter the ER while off duty instead of the public entrance.

The city then charged Lantz with misconduct.

City officials allege it was misconduct when Lantz entered the ER while off duty through the restricted ambulance door instead of the public entrance.

Lantz's attorney, Patrick O'Leary, argued that the fire department and hospital condoned the same actions performed by other firefighters for years.

According to background documents in the lawsuit, Elkhart Fire Chief Dale allegedly said firefighters have consistently entered the ER while off duty through the ambulance door, as Lantz had.

Dale said this practice had been on-going for years, and at no time had the hospital ever complained about the practice before.

The suit asks the court to reverse the Merit Commission’s decision as it allegedly exceeds the scope of its authority.