A volunteer doctor has filed a $25 million civil lawsuit against two Long Island firefighters, accusing them of sexually assaulting her during a birthday party at the police station.
Amanda Gross alleges that former Wantagh Fire Department Chief Kenneth Kelly, Jr. and Captain Josef Seier got her so drunk that she was unable to defend herself against their advances.
She had been volunteering at the department for about six years at the time and was only 27 years old.
‘I thought these people were my friends and they weren’t. “They did the opposite and took advantage,” Gross, now 29, told NBC New York.
“They immediately turned around and did what they always try to do: victim-shaming and victim-blaming.”
Volunteer medic Amanda Gross accused former Wantagh Fire Department Chief Kenneth Kelly, Jr. and Capt. Josef Seier (pictured) of sexually assaulting her in a $25 million civil lawsuit.
The allegations arise from the night of January 14, 2022, when Kelly (pictured when he was sworn in as chief in 2020) is accused of raping her along with Seier.
Gross alleges that the men ‘continuously overserved’ her with alcoholic beverages after she arrived at the firehouse (pictured) to celebrate Seier’s birthday.
According to documents seen by DailyMail.com, Gross was invited to Wantagh Fire Department Station 4 on the night of January 14, 2022 to celebrate Seier’s birthday.
It came without alcohol, “at the request of defendant Seier and his girlfriend,” the lawsuit states.
However, Gross was allegedly served and “continually overserved” with alcoholic beverages upon his arrival by both Seier and Kelly.
The lawsuit notes that “serving and over-serving female customers, including female firefighters, in an attempt to make them more vulnerable to assault by male firefighters, including the individual defendants, was a recurring and ongoing problem in the District.”
Additionally, it alleges that Seier and Kelly ‘had prepared a plan that included intoxicating plaintiff to the point where plaintiff would not be able to consent to their advances.’
As the night progressed, the lawsuit says, Seier “leaned toward the plaintiff and kept his hand on her thigh,” describing both actions as “unwelcome advances.”
Around 2 a.m., Gross heard Kelly tell Seier that the men were going to “wet her like a sponge,” at which point Kelly began telling everyone to leave.
Only upon hearing the comment did Gross realize that the men were planning to attack her.
The lawsuit alleges that Seier began forcing himself on her once the room was empty, despite Gross’s protests.
The men allegedly told her that “there were no cameras where they were” as they watched her struggle to escape.
According to the document, Seier began to get more aggressive and asked, ‘Do you want to see this big cock?’
Kelly allegedly stepped in and said, “We know you like him,” before stating that Gross was going to be Seier’s “gift.”
She accuses the men of raping her once she began to drift in and out of consciousness. At one point, Kelly left the firehouse as Seier continued to assault her, the lawsuit states.
Gross heard Kelly (pictured) tell Seier that the men were going to ‘wet her like a sponge,’ at which point Kelly began telling everyone to leave the police station.
Hours after the assault, Gross received a text message from Kelly that said, “I had fun last night.” But remember, that’s between you, me and Joe only forever.
The doctor accuses Seier and Kelly (center, holding a fire helmet) of committing assault, battery, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other charges.
Gross left around 4 a.m. and received a text from Kelly saying, “I had fun last night.” But remember, that’s between you, Joe and me only forever. A screenshot of the message was included in the lawsuit.
Gross’s attorneys maintain that she suffered bruises and several other injuries to her back and inside her vagina from the brutal assault.
The document also states that Gross continues to suffer “severe psychological damage and depression, feelings of shame, humiliation, loss of sleep” and other symptoms.
The lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages, accuses both men of assault, battery, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other charges.
It also accuses the Wantagh Fire Department, the Wantagh Fire District and the Board of Commissioners of negligence in failing to protect their personnel by allowing them to come into contact with Seier and Kelly.
The lawsuit came a year after a police report was filed following the assault, but neither man was criminally charged.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Gross has continued to volunteer with the department.
“My goal is to make it safe, to create a safe environment for the people who join, the people who are still in the department,” he said.
“You can think what you want, but as long as I stay strong, I’ll be fine.”
Neither Kelly nor Seier continue to work for the department. The Wantagh Fire District declined to comment, citing pending litigation.