Justia Utah Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Victims-Appellants T.C. and N.C. are the minor victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by their adopted older brother Zachariah Clark. As part of the restitution ordered during sentencing, the trial court required the defendant to pay the costs of the victimsâ therapy. But as defendant was also sentenced to prison, he had no means to pay those costs. Because defendant was adopted through the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), Appellants requested that DCFS be ordered to pay their treatment costs pursuant to state law. That request was ultimately denied. On appeal, Appellants raise several grounds for challenging the district courtâs refusal to order DCFS to pay for their treatment. The Supreme Court did not reach the merits of these contentions because it found that the Appellants had no statutory right to appeal the decision.