AT&T Wireless has reached a settlement with the company that manages Salt Lake City's Triad Center in a civil lawsuit over building security stemming from the slaying of an employee there last year.
Anne Sleater, 30, was shot on Jan. 14, 1999, soon after returning to her job as a human-resources manager for AT&T after the birth of her first child. She died eight days later.
A woman was arrested after threatening workers in several areas in the building.
AT&T is suing for financial losses as a result of the shooting. They say their staff was traumatized and the company lost productivity. AT&T Wireless eventually had to relocate its offices.
The company contends the Triad Center could have done more to alert its tenants sooner that the shooter was in the building.
The settlement is with La Salle LLC, the company that manages the building. It comes two weeks into a jury trial in the case.
Beyond acknowledging that the settlement had been reached, representatives of La Salle had no comment.
The trial will continue against Allied Security, the company contracted to provide security for the Triad Center.
AT&T officials said they were relieved that at least a portion of the case was over.
"We're just really glad to have it this far behind us," said Marsha Fetzer, AT&T director of communications.
Fetzer declined to comment on the exact terms of the settlement.
M&S Triad, the mortgage holder for the Triad Center, reached a similar agreement with AT&T earlier this month.
The jury trial is scheduled to last until Nov. 29, but Fetzer said the settlement will significantly shorten the trial.
Fetzer would not speculate whether the settlement with La Salle will prompt Allied Security to reach an agreement as well.
"We'll just keep on going and keep our fingers crossed," Fetzer said. Allied Security, La Salle and the building's landlords, M&S Seibel Inc. and M&S Triad Center L.P., all settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Sleater's husband in August.
Police and prosecutors say De-Kieu Duy, a woman with a history of mental illness, legally purchased a 9mm handgun from a West Valley gun shop and then took a bus to the Triad Center. She entered the lobby at KSL television at about 3 p.m. on the afternoon of Jan. 14, and alledgedly fired numerous shots, injuring a KSL building manager.
Unable to enter the newsroom, Duy then proceeded to other floors, police say. That is when she confronted Sleater in her office and shot her in the head.
Duy was eventually wrestled to the ground by one of Sleater's co-workers.
A judge has ruled Duy is still incompetent to stand trial.
E-MAIL: mtitze@desnews.com ; awelling@desnews.com