Settlements expected soon in suits against FLDS, Jeffs
 
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
 
A series of lawsuits filed against fugitive Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs and the polygamous church's financial arm may be close to being settled.

A lawyer for the so-called "Lost Boys," who were kicked out of the FLDS Church's enclaves in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., appeared briefly before a judge in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court on Monday. They announced talks were under way to settle the lawsuits.

"It's as unique as the case," lawyer Gregory Hoole said of the proposed settlements. He is representing a group of Lost Boys who filed the lawsuit.

It is one of three that have been filed against Jeffs, the FLDS Church and the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust. A woman named "M.J." is suing, claiming she was forced by Jeffs into a polygamous marriage. Jeffs' own nephew, Brent Jeffs, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit claiming the FLDS leader sexually abused him.

Lawyers for both the Lost Boys and the UEP Trust declined to discuss specifics of the proposed settlements on Monday. Hoole said it did not exclusively involve money but acknowledged it could potentially involve housing, education or trustee positions for the young men ousted from their families and the polygamous church.

"There are only so many assets to go around," said Mark A. Callister, a lawyer for the UEP Trust. "We think that the Lost Boys have contributed to getting this trust reformed."

In 2005, a Utah judge took control of the UEP Trust amid allegations that Jeffs and other trustees had been fleecing the $110 million assets. A court-appointed special fiduciary, Bruce Wisan, was placed in charge.

While trying to persuade residents in the FLDS-dominated towns of Hildale and Colorado City to pay their property taxes, Wisan has also been defending the UEP Trust from the lawsuits. Members of his advisory board met for several hours on Saturday to discuss the proposed settlements.

"There's been no resolution," he told the Deseret Morning News on Monday. "We're still negotiating. We just can't come to grips with the thing."

Still, Wisan said he believes the lawsuits will be settled.

Property taxes have also been paid on a pair of homes that received the first eviction notices in the border towns.

William "Bill" Shapley and James Zitting's large-scale Colorado City homes were slapped with eviction notices last week. Shapley is a Colorado City town councilman. Zitting is rumored to be a part of Warren Jeffs' "inner circle."

On Monday morning, Wisan said he received a faxed notice from Mohave County, Ariz., authorities that the property taxes were paid.

"The eviction process has stopped," he said. "They didn't even get in the five-day period."

Warren Jeffs has reportedly told his followers not to pay their property taxes. Mysteriously enough, after being hand-served with notices for the past few weeks asking them to pay up or move out, the property taxes are starting to be paid.

Jeffs, 50, is a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. He is charged in Utah and Arizona with forcing teenage girls into polygamous marriages with older men. Federal prosecutors have charged Jeffs with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Tuesday, June 20, 2006
 
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