May 6, 2016 — A child bride of the polygamist FLDS church has reached a $2.75 million settlement with the United Effort Plan Trust, which controls homes and the property in the “Short Creek” community.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Wall will receive a mix of cash and property, but it was far less than the $40 million she originally sought.
In a statement released today, her attorney said the settlement was long overdue:
“Ms. Wall brought this case to hold responsible those in power who used their position to perpetuate abuse. She has experienced firsthand how the UEP Trust was used by Warren Jeffs to hurt families like hers and others.”
The lawsuit was filed in November 2015 by Elissa Wall, who was forced to marry her 19 year-old first cousin when she was just 14 years old. Warren Jeffs presided over the marriage ceremony in 2001.
In March, the Utah Supreme Court refused to dismiss her $40 million lawsuit, paving the way for Wall and other abuse victims to seek damages from the UEP Trust.
The trust contains an estimated $110 million and was taken over by the courts in 2005. It is now secular, but all of the beneficiaries are current or former FLDS members or heirs.
Wall was a star witness in the prosecution of Jeffs in 2007. He was convicted of rape as an accomplice, but the conviction was overturned in Utah. Jeffs is currently serving a life sentence in Texas for having sex with a 12-year-old and 15-year-old child brides.
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