PA VFD Brass Stonewall Sex Assault Case

WILKES-BARRE, PA -- Officers of the Trucksville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company have failed to produce documents and answers in a civil lawsuit alleging negligence for allowing one of its members to engage in sexual relations with a junior firefighter, according to a court motion.

Attorneys Michelle M. Quinn and Michael A. Lombardo III, of Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn, have filed a motion in Luzerne County Court to force the fire company to turn over documents and respond to questions related to the lawsuit.

Quinn and Lombardo sued on behalf of the junior firefighter and her mother in May. They alleged the fire company was negligent for allowing the girl to join a year before she became eligible for the junior firefighter program when she turned 14 and looking the other way when then Lt. Joshua James Ralston, 21, engaged in sexual relations with the girl.

Ralston pleaded guilty to two felony counts of statutory sexual assault and was sentenced Feb. 8 by Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas to 11 months to 23 months in jail, followed by two years on probation.

In response, the fire company through its attorney, Joseph Goldberg, of Philadelphia, denied the allegations. Instead, it placed blame solely on Ralston.

Efforts to reach Goldberg were unsuccessful on Tuesday.

However, the fire company has failed to produce documents and respond to questions sent in June, according to a motion filed by Quinn and Lombardo on Nov. 26.

Quinn and Lombardo are seeking a court order to force the company to turn over the requested materials.

Judge Thomas F. Burke, who is presiding over the case, scheduled a hearing Dec. 20. Burke also scheduled a trial on the lawsuit to begin Feb. 3, 2020.

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