SALT LAKE CITY — Embattled developer and former Utah Transit Authority trustee Terry Diehl has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking relief for more than $41.7 million owed to banks, credit unions, developers, auto dealers and even Las Vegas casinos.

Attorney James W. Anderson filed the petition Friday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah on behalf of Diehl, whose troubles in recent years include failing to pay nearly $1 million in property taxes and being at the center of allegations of impropriety regarding a land deal near a future UTA commuter rail stop in Draper.

Messages left for Diehl, Anderson and Bruce Baird, Diehl's development and land-use attorney, were not immediately returned Monday.

According to the filing, Diehl owes $41.7 million to 19 creditors, including $25.9 million to America First Credit Union for three personal guarantee loans. He also owes $11 million to Bodell Construction Co., according to his list of creditors.

American First spokeswoman Nicole Cypers said it was against the credit union's policy to provide specific information about the loans, such as when they were issued and what was used to secure them.

"We make loans that are secured by real estate collateral," Cypers said. "We have a conservative strategy in preparing for difficult economic situations, so we do have adequate allowances for loan loss in our reserves."

Related:

Salt Lake developer sued over allegedly missing $2 million

Two land development companies have filed a lawsuit against Utah developer and former Utah Transit Authority board member Terry Diehl alleging he took nearly $2 million and put it in a California retirement fund.

Diehl also owes nearly $1.5 million to South Mountain and $525,000 to GEM/Group Estates Management Inc. related to a December 2011 lawsuit the developers filed against Diehl and his company, Wasatch Pacific Inc.

Diehl was an influential member of the UTA board of trustees until resigning in May 2011 amid allegations of impropriety. In December 2010, the Legislative Auditor General's Office found Diehl had a conflict of interest and was compensated as much as $24 million in the sale of development rights to land adjacent to a future FrontRunner stop in Draper.

Diehl also has been at the center of a controversial development in the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Last week, Cottonwood Heights leaders decided to drop a legal battle to keep Diehl from annexing 87 acres from the city to build the high-density Tavaci development. The land is now part of unincorporated Salt Lake County.

City leaders didn't want to allow the property to break away from Cottonwood Heights, but expected legal costs of more than $500,000 were too high to authorize, Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said.

In August 2011, a Deseret News and KSL investigation revealed that Diehl owned nearly $1 million in back property taxes on the Tavaci land.

Cullimore said news that Diehl had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection came as a surprise. As for how the action impacts the future of Tavaci, that remains to be seen, he said.

"I really don't know how to read those tea leaves," Cullimore said. "I would suspect that property will be part of the bankruptcy. And as with any other asset in a bankruptcy situation, he'll either have to show how he can use it in the reorganization plan, or he'll have to turn it over to the creditors."

Cullimore said it's likely that Diehl filing for bankruptcy "was part of a plan" and not just an act of financial desperation.

"I'm sure we'll find out sooner than later what that plan is relative to that property," he said. "I would think that it may cause some delay in pursing (development of Tavaci) with the county."

Other debts listed in the bankruptcy filing include an $800,000 loan from Kaysville Development; a $350,000 personal guarantee loan from Cache Valley Bank; $500,000 to a Salt Lake City man for a 2004 Lincoln Navigator, a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 2500 and a pair of scooters — a 2006 Vespa and a 2007 Piaggo; and $54,500 to Ally Financial Inc. in Minnesota for a Cadillac Escalade.

Diehl also owes $300,000 to the MGM Grand Hotel and $150,000 to Aria Resort & Casino, both in Las Vagas.

Other debts include $277,000 to Continental Bank for a loan and judgment; $239,000 to Better Diehl LLC, which is listed by the Utah Department of Commerce as a company owned by Diehl; and $72,000 in spousal support.

Diehl also listed credit card debt of $21,350 to Utah First Credit Union, $18,200 to Chase and $3,200 to Diners Club.

In December 2011, South Mountain and Gem/Group Estates Management Inc., both owned by Japanese businessman Yoshimitsu Mugishima, filed a complaint in 3rd District Court alleging that Diehl took nearly $2 million and put it in a California retirement fund.

The lawsuit centers on several apparently unauthorized money transfers Diehl made after a land transaction between the firms and Draper.

Email:jpage@ksl.com

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