FLDS trust’s fiduciary files complaint against former child bride’s family
A fiduciary overseeing a polygamous sect’s trust has sued the parents, a sister and former husband of Elissa Wall, saying they, not the trust, are responsible for her forced marriage at age 14.
Bruce R. Wisan filed the third-party complaint in Wall’s multimillion lawsuit against the United Effort Plan Trust. He argues that any damages that may have resulted from her 2001 marriage to Allen Steed were “primarily and ultimately” caused by their failure to act.
In addition to Steed, the complaint names Lloyd Wall and Sharon Wall, Elissa’s parents; Rebecca Musser, her sister; and former trustees Truman I. Barlow, Leroy S. Jeffs, James Zitting, William E. Jessop and the estate of the late Fred M. Jessop. Lloyd and Sharon Wall were separated, and Sharon Wall was assigned to Jessop, as is custom in the sect.
Wall sued the trust in 2005 under the pseudonym “M.J.,” claiming it conspired in sanctioning her unwanted marriage and providing a home to the couple, where non-consensual sexual intercourse occurred. She is seeking an unspecified amount from the trust, including creation of a $1 million fund to assist others who leave the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
[…]Wisan asks that the defendants be required to indemnify the trust for any judgment entered against it or bear a proportionate share of any award given Wall. It also asks that the defendants pay the trust’s costs and attorney fees in the action.
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FLDS trust CPA sues former child bride’s family
Walls’ sexual relationship with her husband between 2001 and 2004 was the basis for the charges filed against Jeffs in 2006 by Washington County prosecutors.
During the trial Wall said her stepfather, mother and sister encouraged the marriage. She also said her mother and sister made her a wedding dress and helped prepare a honeymoon suite for the new couple.
Jeffs performed the marriage in a Caliente, Nev. motel and later counseled an unhappy Wall to try and make her marriage work.
A jury found the church leader guilty of two counts of rape as an accomplice. He was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life.
Wall, now an adult, was granted an FLDS divorce and left the church in 2004.