SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah state attorneys are urging a judge to toss a lawsuit from former attorney general Mark Shurtleff seeking $1.1 million in legal fees that he spent to defend himself against bribery allegations that were ultimately dismissed.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office said in a court filing Friday that Shurtleff isn’t eligible for reimbursement because he wasn’t an employee when charges were dismissed last year.
Shurtleff contends he’s covered under a state law designed to protect state employees who are acquitted after being charged with a crime while carrying out their duties.
That law is usually used by people acquitted by a jury. Shurtleff’s case was dismissed by a county prosecutor assigned to take the case.
Shurtleff alleges he’s still eligible because Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes ordered the county attorney dismiss the charges. Reyes denies that.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.