DELRAY BEACH, FL — A fire rescue agreement between two Palm Beach County municipalities has moved from local government dispute to civil court.
The City of Delray Beach is suing the Town of Highland Beach in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, claiming Highland Beach failed to pay amounts Delray Beach says are owed under an interlocal fire rescue service agreement.
The complaint, City of Delray Beach, Florida v. Town of Highland Beach, Florida, Case No. 502026CA006503XXXAMB, was filed June 10, 2026, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida. The filing lists Division AN.
Delray Beach is represented in the complaint by Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., with attorney Sarnaz Alempour listed for the city. The claims are allegations in a civil complaint and have not been proven in court.
According to the complaint, Delray Beach and Highland Beach entered into a written interlocal service agreement in 2016 for Delray Beach to provide firefighting services, emergency medical services, emergency equipment, and personnel to Highland Beach.
The lawsuit says the agreement was later revised to extend the fire and emergency medical services provided by Delray Beach for an additional 10-year period, beginning in October 2017 and running through September 30, 2026.
Under the agreement described in the complaint, Delray Beach Fire Rescue provided services including fire suppression, heavy rescue, basic and advanced life support emergency medical services, fire prevention inspections, hazardous materials incident response, dive-rescue services, and assignment of apparatus for Highland Beach.
The complaint alleges Highland Beach was required to make monthly payments toward the annual service fee and that Delray Beach would later provide a true-up accounting after the end of each fiscal year. According to the lawsuit, if actual expenses exceeded the prior estimate, Highland Beach was responsible for the difference.
The dispute detailed in the complaint traces back to several years of billing and staffing issues.
The lawsuit says Highland Beach issued a notice of intent to terminate the agreement effective April 30, 2024, after reviewing a feasibility study related to operating its own fire-rescue department. The complaint also states that Highland Beach commissioners approved a resolution in 2021 to establish and fund a Highland Beach Fire and Rescue Department, subject to voter approval.
According to the complaint, Delray Beach provided Highland Beach with a Fiscal Year 2022 service fee estimate of $5,439,029 in June 2021. The lawsuit says that estimate included increased personnel staffing proposed through a first amendment to the agreement.
Delray Beach alleges the proposed amendment would have increased personnel assigned under the agreement from 22.5 positions to 26.5 positions, including four additional lieutenant/paramedics. The complaint says Highland Beach rejected the amendment in September 2021 as to any staffing increase beyond the 22.5 positions.
The lawsuit then lists several disputed amounts. According to the complaint, Delray Beach sent Highland Beach a $121,514 true-up bill for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and a $396,140 true-up bill for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The complaint also alleges Delray Beach later identified an overpayment of $103,025.80 and requested repayment.
Delray Beach claims it issued a notice of breach for non-payment in December 2022 for $517,654. The complaint states Highland Beach disputed the alleged breach, requested additional materials, and later denied it was in breach of the agreement.
The complaint further alleges that, after a 2025 review of transactions and amounts for services rendered under the agreement, Delray Beach determined the total true-up amount for expenses and costs above prior estimates was approximately $3.8 million.
The civil complaint brings two counts: breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In plain terms, Delray Beach alleges Highland Beach did not meet its payment and dispute-resolution obligations under the agreement.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000, along with actual damages, late charges, interest, costs, and other relief the court deems proper. Delray Beach also demands a jury trial.
The complaint package reviewed by Boca Post does not include a court response from Highland Beach.
Boca Post reviewed the complaint, City of Delray Beach, Florida v. Town of Highland Beach, Florida, Case No. 502026CA006503XXXAMB, filed June 10, 2026, in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
The case is newly filed in Palm Beach County civil court, and Delray Beach’s jury demand remains part of the complaint.
Boca Post reports regularly on civil complaints filed in Palm Beach County courts. Readers can browse recent filings in our Delray Beach lawsuits coverage.
