KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Former Keene Fire Chief Donald Farquhar has filed counterclaims against the three former firefighters who sued him and the City of Keene earlier this year, accusing them of orchestrating a coordinated effort to force him out of his position and damage his reputation.

The counterclaims, filed in Cheshire Superior Court, are the latest development in the long-running legal dispute stemming from allegations surrounding Farquhar’s tenure as Keene’s fire chief.

The lawsuit began after former Capt. Steven Dumont Sr., former Capt. Michael Abbott and former Lt. Christopher Staples sued the City of Keene, former Fire Chief Donald Farquhar and City Manager Elizabeth Ferland. The firefighters allege wrongful termination, retaliation, age and gender discrimination, defamation, emotional distress and other misconduct, claiming Farquhar created a hostile work environment through inappropriate comments, threats, retaliation and inconsistent fire inspection practices. They also allege Ferland knew about the conduct and failed to act. The city, Ferland and Farquhar have denied the allegations.

Earlier this month, attorneys argued before a Cheshire County Superior Court judge over Farquhar’s request to dismiss eight of the 11 claims against him. His attorney argued many of the allegations should instead be directed at the city because Farquhar was not the firefighters’ employer, while the plaintiffs’ attorney maintained Farquhar was personally responsible for much of the alleged misconduct, including statements made after he left city employment. The court has not yet ruled on that motion.

In his newly filed counterclaims, Farquhar denies the firefighters’ allegations and instead alleges the lawsuit is part of what he describes as a years-long conspiracy by the three former firefighters and others to remove him as chief while he was attempting to reform the department and strengthen fire code enforcement.

According to the filing, Farquhar says he inherited a department with a significant backlog of fire code violations and a workplace culture that included racist language and behavior. He claims he introduced workplace culture training, modernized department operations and increased enforcement of fire and life safety regulations, changes that he says were met with resistance from some employees and influential property owners.

Farquhar alleges Dumont repeatedly complained about Lt. Meghan Manke, the department’s first female officer in two decades, and failed to properly supervise or mentor her. He also claims Abbott spread false rumors about Manke, threatened to “go to war” if disciplinary action was taken against him and later became increasingly hostile toward department leadership.

The filing further alleges Dumont improperly forwarded a department email containing allegations against Manke to his personal email account and later to his attorney, prompting a Professional Standards Investigation that resulted in his termination. Dumont was later reinstated through arbitration before reaching a settlement with the city worth more than $300,000.

Farquhar also contends the three former firefighters worked in concert with local developers Toby Tousley and Jared Goodell, who he says opposed his stricter fire code enforcement efforts, to undermine his leadership and ultimately force his resignation. He alleges false complaints, fabricated evidence and selectively released text messages were used to pressure city officials into taking action against him.

His attorney has argued court filings show communications between the developers and the firefighters and has identified Tousley and Goodell as non-parties who may bear responsibility for some of the alleged damages. Attorneys for Dumont, Abbott and Staples sought to have that disclosure removed, but the court denied the request, allowing Farquhar to continue pursuing that argument as the case moves forward.

After resigning as fire chief in April 2024, Farquhar alleges the three former firefighters distributed text messages from his personnel file to public officials and members of the media in an effort to portray him as discriminatory and unfit to serve as chief. He also notes the city’s Professional Standards Investigation found no credible evidence that he improperly targeted or favored property owners through the fire prevention office, although investigators partially substantiated an allegation that he made an age-related comment about Dumont.

Based on those allegations, Farquhar is seeking damages through claims of civil conspiracy, defamation, interference with contractual relations and intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress. He alleges the actions of the three former firefighters and others damaged his professional reputation, cost him his position as Keene fire chief and caused significant emotional distress.

The underlying lawsuit filed by Dumont, Abbott and Staples against the City of Keene, Ferland and Farquhar remains pending in Cheshire Superior Court.