Opinion ID: 2631213
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2 Shattuck-Owen worked as a server in Snowbird's banquet department. On May 24, 1996, she was scheduled to work two consecutive shifts. After completing her first shift, she retired to a lounge area to rest. While there, an unidentified man sexually assaulted her. The assault was recorded by Snowbird surveillance cameras. After the assault, Shattuck-Owen immediately informed her supervisor, who in turn reported the incident to Snowbird management. Management notified the police, who began an investigation. ¶ 3 Snowbird admits showing the surveillance video to nine people in conjunction with the investigation: 1) Richard Caldwell, Investigative Coordinator for Snowbird's Department of Public Safety; 2) Randy Keisker, Assistant Director for Snowbird's Department of Public Safety; 3) Dan Green, Snowbird investigator; 4) Brian Florida, Snowbird's Executive Chef, who viewed the tape to rule out the possibility that the perpetrator was one of his employees; 5) Heather Blume, Snowbird's Food and Beverage Manager, who viewed the tape to rule out her employees; 6) Tom Maxfield, Snowbird's Bell Captain and Valet Supervisor, who viewed the tape to rule out his employees; 7) Janine Wyatt, Snowbird's Conference Service Manager, who probably viewed the tape to rule out her employees; 8) Terry Comstock, Sandy Police Department, who was investigating a rapist in Sandy, Utah; and 9) Linda Ziprich, a victim of the Sandy rapist. ¶ 4 In addition to these nine people, Shattuck-Owen alleges that her supervisor, Brett Hanson, watched the video, as did two or three other individuals who were walking in and out of the security office while the tape was showing. ¶ 5 In early June, Shattuck-Owen contacted Kerry Roberts, Snowbird's Human Resources Director. Roberts suggested that Shattuck-Owen contact Michelle Myers, a therapist who worked with Snowbird's Employee Assistance Program, to help Shattuck-Owen deal with the trauma caused by the assault. Shattuck-Owen expressed a preference to see a private therapist with whom she already had a comfortable relationship. According to Shattuck-Owen, Roberts told her to first see Michelle Myers, and if Myers felt Shattuck-Owen would be better served by seeing a private therapist, then Roberts saw no reason why Snowbird would not be willing to help or support her. ¶ 6 Shattuck-Owen did consult with Myers, who recommended that Shattuck-Owen work with her own therapist. Snowbird refused to pay for Shattuck-Owen's therapy. Shattuck-Owen never pursued Workers' Compensation benefits for any injuries stemming from the assault or for the costs of therapy. ¶ 7 In September 1997, Shattuck-Owen filed suit against Snowbird, claiming that it invaded her privacy by carelessly allowing numerous people to view the video of the sexual assault. Shattuck-Owen also claimed that Snowbird had contracted to pay her therapy bills and breached that contract. Snowbird moved for summary judgment, arguing that both claims were barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the Workers' Compensation Act. In addition, Snowbird argued that even if the claims were not barred, they failed as a matter of law. Specifically, Snowbird asserted that Shattuck-Owen could not prove all the elements of her invasion of privacy claim, and that she could not prove breach of contract because no valid contract existed. As to the validity of the alleged contract, Snowbird asserted that Roberts had no authority to enter into a contract for Snowbird, and that the conversation creating the alleged contract lacked sufficiently definite terms. ¶ 8 Following oral argument, the trial court granted summary judgment to Snowbird. The trial court ruled that Shattuck-Owen's claims were barred by the Workers' Compensation Act and that even if they were not, they failed as a matter of law. The court determined that Shattuck-Owen could not prove a necessary element of her invasion of privacy claim. It also ruled that Roberts did not have authority to contract on behalf of Snowbird. The trial court did not rule on whether the conversation between Shattuck-Owen and Roberts contained sufficiently definite terms to constitute a contract. Shattuck-Owen appeals.