Utah's Supreme Court has rejected a petition from members of a southern Utah-based polygamous sect seeking a reversal of changes made to its communal land trust.

In a ruling issued Friday, justices say members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints waited too long to challenge the state's intervention in the United Effort Plan Trust.

Valued at $110 million, the trust holds the property in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., the twin border towns where most church members live.

Utah seized the trust in 2005 after allegations of mismanagement by church leaders. A court-appointed accountant has since converted the trust into a secular entity.

FLDS members consider state control of the UEP a violation of their religious rights.

Law firm Shapiro & Fishman has accused Attorney General Bill McCollum of pre-election grandstanding and “abuse of power” in connection with McCollum’s recent announcement that his office is conducting a foreclosure fraud investigation into that firm and two others.

The allegations are in response to a coordinated investigation announced by McCollum during an Aug. 10 press conference. McCollum said his office is looking at whether the three South Florida firms engaged in unfair and deceptive actions in their handling of foreclosure cases.

The other firms were the Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson in Fort Lauderdale and the Law Offices of David J. Stern, P.A. in Plantation.

The firm’s response came Friday in a motion to quash a subpoena in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

Armstrong Teasdale LLP announces the arrival of associates Irina Sandler, Lauren Ashley Smith, and Adam R. Wuller.

“The subtle shift in the economy has brought about additional business and afforded us the opportunity to add talent,” said Michael A. Chivell, Armstrong Teasdale’s managing partner. “As we position Armstrong Teasdale as a premier firm in this region, we’ll continue to place a premium on attracting exceptional attorneys in key practice areas.”

Former legal counsel at the affiliate of Emerson Electric in Moscow, Irina Sandler joins the firm’s International practice group and will focus on international trade, import and export controls, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and antitrust compliance. She earned her LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Technology Law from Washington University School of Law, was an Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Program Fellow at the University of Illinois College of Law, and received her Degree in Law from Russian Law Academy of the Russian Ministry of Justice.

Lauren Ashley Smith, a recent law school graduate, is a member of the firm’s Public Finance and Real Estate, and Financial Services practice groups. Drawing on her research and scholarship in land use, and state and local government law, she will focus on public/private real estate development and municipal finance. Additionally, Smith will assist lenders and other creditors seeking to maximize their recovery against debtors in litigation, liquidation, reorganization, and bankruptcy including all aspects of post-judgment collection efforts. She earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law and her B.A. from Marquette University.

Adam R. Wuller, also a recent graduate, is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and joins the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group. The majority of his work will involve the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and medical devices. Wuller received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.S. in engineering physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Insider Exclusive presents: “Radio’s Deadly Stunts- The Jennifer Strange Story.” We go behind the headlines with Roger Dreyer of Dreyer Babbich Buccola Wood, LLP, the Strange family’s lead attorney, to uncover the real facts of why this 28-year-old mother of three, needlessly died of Hyponatremia (water intoxication) in this tragic incident. And joining Roger is a former contestant from the very same incident that resulted in Jennifer’s death, as well as two jurors from this case.

The jury awarded Billy Strange and his family $16.5 million dollars for the wrongful death of his wife, Jennifer Strange. And, after the verdict, Roger Dreyer stated that this kind of verdict sends an important message to media organizations across the nation: From day one, we have wanted to make certain that the media in the nation, particularly radio media . . . understand they cant have these kinds of contests without taking necessary steps to research them and educate the people participating. And what stronger message could we possibly want than that? Roger A. Dreyer has tried in excess of 100 jury trials to conclusion with over twenty of those trials exceeding seven figures.

He has represented a diverse client base ranging from the poor to the National Football Leagues Oakland Raiders and Al Davis in their successful trial verdict over the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum in 2003. He has been recognized by his peers as the Trial Lawyer of the Year for the State of California in 2004 and as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers of Northern California, the only such personal injury trial attorney in the Sacramento region to be so recognized. He has achieved resolution of cases for his clients exceeding 100 million dollars, including more than 100 verdicts and settlements exceeding seven figures. He specializes in catastrophic losses and wrongful death matters.

Roger is also involved in community activities and since 1998, has served as the former Chair of the Board and as a current Board member for the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento as well as spending time managing Little League and coaching soccer for the past 12 years in which his four children participate. He was recognized in 2002 by the Non-profit Resource Center, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce as the Outstanding Board Leader. Dreyer Babbich Buccola Wood, LLP specializes in the full range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including vehicle accidents, dangerous products, job-related injuries, construction accidents, dangerous roadways, and trucking accidents. The firm’s attorneys are diverse people from varied backgrounds. The firm has also established a distinguished and consistent track record of successful injury victim representation spanning over 20 years.

You can contact Roger Dreyer at 916-379-3500, or www.dbbc.com