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Utah AG’s Office settles lawsuit involving UHP Trooper accused of wrongful DUI arrests

Posted at 6:28 PM, Jul 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-22 20:28:57-04

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Attorney General’s Office settled a lawsuit Friday involving a former Utah Highway Patrol Trooper accused of wrongfully arresting drivers during DUI stops.

Steed was named the “Trooper of the Year” in 2007 for her high volume of DUI arrests, but later she was accused of making wrongful arrests.

According to a press release from the Utah AG’s Office, the lawsuit was settled for $200,000 to cover costs and attorney’s fees.

The lawsuit had also named the Utah Highway Patrol and the State of Utah, but both were dismissed from the case in a ruling last week. Additional claims against Steed were also dismissed, but a single claim brought forward by three individual plaintiffs was allowed to proceed to trial. The settlement relates to that claim, according to the press release.

The statement from the AG’s Office reads in part:

“Ms. Steed and the Utah Highway Patrol continue to believe that her arrests were supported by probable cause, and therefore were valid under the Utah Constitution. A settlement was made to avoid a lengthy trial and appeal of any jury verdict. As part of this settlement the case against Ms. Steed in State Court, brought by these three Plaintiffs is dismissed in its entirety with prejudice. Accordingly, any appeal of the dismissal of the Utah Highway Patrol and the State of Utah is foreclosed as a matter of law.”

The settlement will require the approval of the court before it is final.