Woman who worked for Provo City files suit after rape at recreation center

PROVO, Utah — A woman has filed a lawsuit against Provo City for a rape that happened as she was leaving a work shift at the city’s recreation center.

The lawsuit contends the city failed to protect her from sexual harassment and sexual assault while she was working for the city and while on city property, despite repeated reports of the sexual harassment.

The lawsuit, filed is U.S. district court, will seek damages against the city for civil rights violations as a city employee after she was forced into the back of her car and raped by a man who she reported earlier in the day was making unwanted actions, comments and looks toward her during her work shift.

Information provided to the media by the victim’s legal representation stated that during her shift the victim spoke to her her supervisor at the rec center’s pool and reported a “man staring at me constantly and making me feel uncomfortable.”

The supervisor reportedly told the victim that she didn’t know what to do about it, didn’t address the problem and left the girl without a solution.

Despite reporting the nature of harassment, the victim was alone when she left her work shift at approximately 8 p.m. and walked to her car in July 2020. As she approached her vehicle she noticed a man walking toward her with a blue Provo Recreation Center shirt. As he got closer, she recognized him as the man who had sexually harassed her multiple times during her shift.

Despite her attempts to escape, the man overpowered the victim and forced her into the back of her vehicle where he sexually assaulted and raped her.

“Provo City failed in several respects to protect one of their own employees from a young woman’s greatest nightmare. Provo City had multiple opportunities to protect their employee, but instead they repeatedly chose to do nothing,” attorney Erika Larsen said.

The victim, seeking the identity of her rapist, was told by Provo City it didn’t have any surveillance footage of the parking lot where she was assaulted.

By policy and best journalism practices, KSL TV does not name victims of sexual assault. Resources for sexual violence victims are listed below.

Utah sexual violence resource page can be found: vipp.health.utah.gov/sexual-violence/

Rape & sexual assault crisis line 1-888-421-1100

Utah domestic violence link line 1-800-897-LINK (5465)

Linea de apoyo de violencia sexual las 24-horas de Utah:(801) 924-0860

Utah rape recovery center raperecoverycenter.org/