Woman in Jeffs case filed suit against him

The woman at the center of the criminal prosecution against Warren Jeffs is the same woman who has filed a personal injury lawsuit against him.

Lawyers for "M.J." confirmed Tuesday that she is "Jane Doe No. 4" in Washington County's case against Jeffs. It was revealed in court when her lawyers announced she has placed her civil lawsuit on hold until Jeffs' criminal prosecution is over.

"The M.J. case and any settlement is complicated by the criminal prosecution," lawyer Roger Hoole said Tuesday.

Greg Hoole, who is also representing M.J., said they did not want to undermine the criminal case with a civil lawsuit.

"It's not about the lawsuit for her," he told the Deseret Morning News on Tuesday. "It's about helping people and making sure that Warren's behind bars."

Prosecutors refused comment.

"I won't confirm or deny," said deputy Washington County Attorney Brian Filter.

In her lawsuit, M.J. claims she was forced into a polygamous marriage with an older man. The claims are similar to the criminal charges filed against Jeffs in April.

Meanwhile, Jeffs has some new reading material in jail.

The Fundamentalist LDS Church leader has now been served with a lawsuit accusing him of fleecing the United Effort Plan Trust and exposing it to litigation. It was filed by the UEP's court-appointed special fiduciary.

"The arrest of Warren has changed the dynamics of things," said Jeffrey L. Shields, a lawyer for the fiduciary. During Tuesday's court hearing, attorneys updated the judge on settlement talks involving other lawsuits.

Shields said they are close to settling a lawsuit involving Western Precision, a manufacturing company linked to the FLDS Church. The business has left Hildale, and there is a dispute over what property is the company's and what belongs to the UEP.

Negotiations are also underway in a lawsuit filed against Jeffs, the FLDS Church and the UEP by the "Lost Boys," a group of teens who were run out of town for various "sins." Another lawsuit filed by Jeffs' nephew, Brent, claims he was sexually abused as a child by the FLDS leader.

Part of the settlements would be to create a "Lost Boys" assistance and education fund, Roger Hoole said Tuesday.

"The purpose of this would be to eliminate red tape and get the assistance to people who need it immediately," he said, adding that some of the plaintiffs would also gets parts of land in the settlement.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com