From Deseret News archives:
Settlement talks begin over FLDS trust
The Utah Attorney General's Office, lawyers for the court-appointed special fiduciary and members of the advisory board for the UEP Trust met in Salt Lake City on Wednesday to begin talking about crafting a proposed settlement. Lawyers for FLDS members suing the trust were not there, but will be approached with their ideas soon.
"We don't have any proposal yet, but we've got some parameters," said Jeffrey L. Shields, attorney for UEP fiduciary Bruce Wisan. "We're in good faith going to try to resolve this."
Talks of a settlement came to light as a hearing was supposed to begin on Friday in St. George over the proposed sale of 711-acres of farmland on the Utah-Arizona border. Some FLDS members sued to stop the sale of Berry Knoll, which they claim is a holy temple site.
After 3 1/2 years of refusing to deal with Wisan or the courts, FLDS members have broken their silence in a series of lawsuits challenging the reform efforts. Some of those lawsuits accuse the court-controlled UEP Trust of violating FLDS members' religious freedom rights by not allowing them to give their property over to the church.
"In any negotiation, neither side is going to get what they want," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff told the Deseret News after Wednesday's meeting.
Shurtleff said he would like to see a potential global settlement include a board to oversee the UEP Trust made up of current and ex-FLDS members.
"Maybe somebody who could be seen by both sides as impartial in case there's a tie," he said.
In 2005, the UEP Trust was taken over by the courts over allegations that FLDS leaders mismanaged it, including defaulting on multi-million dollar lawsuits filed against the trust and assets being siphoned away from it. The trust, with an estimated $110 million in assets, controls homes and property in the FLDS communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.
The judge overseeing the trust appointed Wisan to manage it. He has been seeking to sell property to pay off nearly $2 million in debts.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
Hey Truth, maybe Jeffs did see this coming, made sure he did...
Sadie | Nov. 20, 2008 at 5:05 p.m.
If Jeffs was a real prophet he would have seen this coming. His ego...
The Truth | Nov. 20, 2008 at 4:46 p.m.
realitycheck, I think that is a great idea! Give the entire trust...
Sadie | Nov. 20, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
- Demjanjuk Nazi trial opens 11:20 p.m.
- Honduran banking on U.S. support 11:18 p.m.
- Jazz's Matthews draws praise 11:16 p.m.
- Police: Sharpton's daughter ranted 11:13 p.m.
- National news briefs 11:12 p.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 11:07 p.m.
- Saints march toward NFL history 10:52 p.m.
- World datelines 10:51 p.m.
- Brewer logs 42 minutes in win 10:51 p.m.
- Police seek 2 men after vehicle theft 10:44 p.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- U. eyes bowl for redemption
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
379 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
370 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
313 - Utes won't respond to Hall
256 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
119 - Religion in politics is tiresome
110
Live 'Twittologue' Dec. 2, 4:00 p.m. with Jason Chaffetz. Click for more.
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
You are incorrect in your article. Five teams will qualify from Region 4, not...
I think I'll bet on your insight because you were so right all the time about...
It's too bad that the rivalry of sporting events so often leads to immature...
Max tells the truth. Many Utah fans are classless. I have actually met some...
I am having a tough time understanding why BYU let that blame them and not me...
with everyone wasting their time posting to a Max Hall centered article right...
you are gaining ground on DEN and POR. Hopefully the Jazz get some depth....
is a very important part of the Jazz. He plays D and has a very good rim...
All the nobility aside I have loved the Lenny Gomes quote since I read it way...
Did someone at BYU say the "h" word and got the UofU fans all worked up? I...

