Harassment and discrimination claim filed against Grand County

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Ten current and former Grand County employees have filed discrimination complaints against the Grand County government, alleging that multiple officials contributed to a hostile work environment.

On September 15, 2025, Attorney Christina Sloan and ten other individuals filed a Notice of Claim, informing Grand County of the intent to pursue legal action against the county. This is in addition to discrimination complaints filed with the Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division of the Utah Labor Commission.

The complainants include ten women who currently work or have worked within the Grand County government and say they encountered a hostile work environment.

Earlier this year, the County removed Cristin Hofhine, one of the complainants, as the Interim Zoning Administrator.

In a Commission Meeting on September 2, 2025, that discussed the Hofhine’s removal, Commissioner Mary McGann said, “Our county, under this commission administrators’ leadership has hit an all-time low. They are creating a hostile, toxic work environment for all staff, but especially for the women working in this county.”

McGann also added that eight female employees had resigned as a result of harassment from commissioners, two of which have joined her as complainants in the Notice of Claim, and that others have also reached out to her with concerns.

Notice of Claim details

The Notice of Claim alleges that multiple Grand County officials “harassed and retaliated against women in the county by interfering with staff and departments” and are “creating and fostering a hostile work environment.”

Specifically, the Notice of Claim names current commissioners Bill Winfield and Brian Martinez. It alleges that Winfield, Martinez, and other officials sexualized their female employees, made inappropriate verbal comments, violated the confidentiality of closed sessions and punished female employees for speech.

It also raises nineteen points of contention that alleges that male Grand County officials purposefully made female employees uncomfortable and diverted funds from female-managed programs.

According to the Notice of Claim, the hostile work environment occurred over a period of fifteen months. It alleges that several of the women were forced to resign, removed inappropriately from their positions, and experienced mental and physical issues as a result of that discrimination.

The claim asks Grand County to issue a public apology and implement workplace reform, in addition to mandatory training. It also asks for an investigation and determination of wrongdoing, as well as a public censure of Bill Winfield, Brian Martinez, and any other involved elected officials.

In response to the notice, Brian Martinez said, “There is no truth to the allegations made against me.”

ABC4 has also reached out to Bill Winfield and some of the complainants for comment but has not heard back yet.