Utah Firefighter Files $1.2 Million Suit Over Sexual Assaults

Posted by: Curt Varone April 4, 2019 1 Comment

A former Utah firefighter has filed a $1.2 million suit in federal court alleging she was sexually harassed and raped by an assistant chief.

Valerie Engstrom claims Assistant Fire Chief Austin James Corry of the Kanosh Volunteer Fire Department harassed her over an extended period of time, and then raped her on three separate occasions. Engstrom alleges she reported the harassment to the fire chief, Scott Corry, the father of the accused.

According to the complaint, Scott Corry merely advised Engstrom to avoid Austin Corry but did nothing to investigate or stop the harassment from progressing to rape. Quoting from the complaint: “Scott Corry took no action and allowed the sexual harassment, assaults, and ultimate rapes, to happen unfettered.”

The suit names the Austin Corry, Scott Corry, the Town of Kanosh, and Millard County. The county was brought into the case because Scott Corry is a Sergeant with the Millard County Sheriff’s office besides being Kanosh’s fire chief. Engstrom accuses Millard County of negligence claiming “By permitting its employee, Sergeant Scott Corry to serve a dual role of Millard County Sherriff and Kanosh Fire Chief, Millard County sanctioned an environment wherein Plaintiff’s complaints were hushed at the source.”

The eight-count complaint alleges civil rights violations, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of severe emotional distress, battery, sexual assault, and negligent hiring, supervision and retention. Austin Corry is currently facing four felony rape charges, five felony sexual abuse charges, and five misdemeanor sexual battery charges.

The suit was filed yesterday. Here is a copy of the complaint:

Engstrom v CorryDownload

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved. | FireLawBlog.com & Curt Varone | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
x

Check Also

Virginia Firefighters Seek $1.5 Billion from PFAS Companies

Six Virginia firefighters and the estate of a deceased firefighter have filed suit against 25 companies associated with per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) seeking $1.5 Billion in damages. The named lead plaintiff in the action is Sara P. Chiaverotti, wife of Virginia Beach Fire Captain Matthew Chiaverotti who died from anaplastic thyroid cancer last year.

Rochester Firefighter Claims Domestic Violence and Gender Discrimination

A Rochester firefighter who claims to have been the victim of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work, has filed suit against the City of Rochester. The firefighter, identified as Jane Doe, claims that the city failed to protect her from domestic violence as required by state law and city policy, and that she was sexually harassed by coworkers at work.