Polygamous sect sues to regain control of trust

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Members of a polygamous church are suing to regain control of a property trust, claiming court oversight since 2005 has stripped the sect of its constitutional rights.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

It names court-appointed fiduciary Bruce Wisan, Third District Judge Denise Lindberg, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard as defendants.

The Utah courts seized the $110 million United Effort Plan trust after state attorneys said church leaders had used its funds for personal gain.

As trust overseer, Wisan reformed the trust to strip church leaders of authority over its assets.

The group has a sprawling ranch in the West Texas town of Eldorado.

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