Some members of the Kingston polygamous clan have struck back against a former underage polygamous "wife," her lawyers and a local newspaper.
The amended counterclaim and third-party complaint demanding millions in damages for what they allege is defamation, invasion of privacy and other charges came to light Monday during what was to be a review hearing regarding a civil lawsuit lodged by Mary Ann Kingston against her father, uncle and a long list of relatives and businesses that she says are connected with the Kingstons.
Mary Ann Kingston filed the suit in 2003, asking $110 million in damages after her father, John Daniel Kingston, beat her unconscious for leaving a polygamous marriage to her uncle, David Ortell Kingston. Her father was convicted of child physical abuse and spent time in jail; her uncle was convicted of incest and unlawful sexual conduct and was sentenced to prison. Both are now free.
Mary Ann Kingston alleged in her lawsuit that others in the group knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop or report it.
Also named in her suit are 240 other people and 96 businesses.
But in a document filed in 3rd District Court on Aug. 31, individuals who are presumably members of the Kingston family allege that Mary Ann Kingston, her attorneys, the Salt Lake Tribune and three of its employees, Rowenna Erickson (co-founder of Tapestry Against Polygamy) and others are guilty of illegal actions that have caused, among other things, emotional distress and financial harm.
The multimillion-dollar lawsuit demands varying amounts of damages from each of the defendants.
The document also alleges Mary Ann Kingston sexually abused a 7-year-old sister and also helped facilitate sexual abuse of the child by a male relative.
The document claims Mary Ann Kingston's lawyers have misused the court system and sued innocent parties to "blackmail" Kingston relatives into becoming "unwilling agents" for Mary Ann Kingston to use "little fish" in the family "as a way of getting to big fish," and to allegedly gather information through the civil discovery process so it can be turned over to government agents to act against the Kingstons.
Named in the document are Tribune reporter Pamela Manson; Tim Fitzpatrick, a managing editor at the paper; and executive editor Tom Baden.
"The community depends on the Tribune to cover matters of public import. That was what we were doing in this matter," Baden said when asked about the allegations.
Erickson declined comment until she could see the lawsuit.
Lawyers from the firm of McKay, Burton & Thurman, which represents Mary Ann Kingston, were not available for comment Monday evening.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com