Change of Venue Granted In FLDS Land Parcel Dispute

According to the St. George (UT) Spectrum, a state court in St. George, Utah yesterday transfered a lawsuit involving land claimed by the FLDS Church to the Salt Lake County's 3rd  District court so that it can be decided together with other claims involving land owned by the United Effort Plan Trust. At issue are 20 acres that Richard Holm says he has purchased over a series of years as part of a larger 520 acre plot.  Holm purchased the land in 1990, and parcels were delivered to him over the next 10 years as he completed payment. However during the interim, the FLDS Church incorporated and Holm, a polygamist, was evicted from the 20 acres by then-FLDS president Warren Jeffs, who assigned Holm's two wives to marry Jeff's brother. Holm initially acquiesced, but later decided to fight back.  After Utah courts took control of the UEP Trust, Holm applied (in two stages) for a personal deed for the 20 acres. He says the deed has been approved by the courts. As previously reported, a federal district court recently held that Utah state courts acted unconstitutionally in asserting jurisdiction to reform the UEP Trust.