WILKES-BARRE, PA — A Back Mountain volunteer fire company recently settled a civil lawsuit filed by the parents of female junior firefighter who was sexually assaulted by an officer in the department.
The suit against Trucksville Volunteer Fire Department and former Lt. Joshua James Ralston, 22, was filed in May on behalf of a minor and the minor’s mother by attorneys Michael A. Lombardo III and Michelle M. Quinn of Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn.
The suit alleged the fire department permitted the girl to join the junior firefighter program in July 2016, one year before the minor’s 14th birthday, when minors are eligible to join.
Soon thereafter, Ralston contacted the girl and sent her sexually explicit messages on a social media app, before engaging in sexual encounters with the girl, the suit alleged.
Dallas Township police charged Ralston in August 2017 with having a sexual relationship with the girl. The case was prosecuted by the state Office of Attorney General.
Ralston pleaded guilty to two felony counts of statutory sexual assault and was sentenced Feb. 8, 2018, by Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas to 11 months to 23 months in the county correctional facility, followed by two years probation.
The suit alleged the fire department’s environment was a “boys club,” comprised of younger men who shared interest in sexual conquests of younger females.
During litigation, Lombardo and Quinn filed a motion in December seeking a judge to force the fire company to turn over documents and respond to questions related to the lawsuit.
Last month, the two attorneys filed a petition to approve a settlement reached with the fire department.
According to the settlement approved by Luzerne County Judge Thomas F. Burke Jr. on March 6, the fire department paid $35,000 to end the litigation, with nearly one-third of the amount paid to Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn.
The settlement also ended litigation against Ralston, who did not respond to the lawsuit and was considered insolvent.
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