Utah

Former Utah Tech President Sued for Allegedly Leaving Inappropriate Display on Employee’s Porch, Claims of Retaliation Arise

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St. George, Utah — A high-profile lawsuit has emerged involving the former president of Utah Tech University, Richard Williams, who is accused of leaving a lewd Halloween display on an employee’s porch in 2022 and subsequent retaliatory behavior. The civil lawsuit alleges that the incident is part of a larger pattern of inappropriate actions and misuse of authority. The lawsuit stems from an event where Williams, then-president of the university, allegedly left a mannequin with its face covered in blackface on the porch of a Black employee, Rachel Himsworth. Himsworth claims that this act was … Read more

Utah Mother Barred from Contacting Children Amid Allegations of Killing Spouse and Concealing Crime

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Salt Lake City, Utah – Salt Lake County authorities recently imposed a stern order on Jennifer Gledhill, 41, prohibiting her from contacting her three young children in any capacity. The drastic legal directive comes in the wake of allegations that she fatally shot her husband, 51-year-old Matthew Johnson, inside their Cottonwood Heights home. Gledhill faces a slew of charges encompassing murder, obstruction of justice, drug possession with intent to distribute, abuse or desecration of a dead body, and witness tampering. The prohibition was voiced by 3rd District Judge Todd Olsen, who raised concerns over potential … Read more

Utah Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Local Paper, Cites New Anti-SLAPP Law in Defamation Case Dismissal

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FILLMORE, Utah — A local judge recently dismissed a defamation lawsuit against the Millard County Chronicle Progress, concluding that the plaintiff, Wayne Aston, failed to adequately substantiate his allegations. Aston had claimed that the newspaper’s coverage of his business proposal in Fillmore was inaccurate and slanderous. However, during a hearing on September 4, the defense successfully argued that a newly enacted Utah law aimed at protecting freedom of expression justified the suit’s dismissal before trial. The legislation, passed in 2023, serves to eliminate unsubstantiated defamation claims early in the legal process, sparing the defendants costly … Read more

Utah Supreme Court Blocks Amendment D from Election, Citing Misleading Language and Publishing Errors

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a recent ruling, the Utah Supreme Court determined that proper constitutional processes were not followed by state lawmakers with respect to placing Amendment D on this year’s general election ballot. This amendment proposed significant changes to the Utah Constitution, specifically enhancing legislative power to overturn voter-approved ballot initiatives. Despite its inclusion in upcoming ballots, the court’s decision renders all votes on Amendment D null and void. This means that while it will still appear before voters, the results will carry no weight. Attorney Mark Gaber, representing those challenging the … Read more