WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Attorneys for owners affiliated with Omni Hotels & Resorts allege that U.S. Sen. Jim Justice threatened to use his influence over West Virginia courts during a recent dispute over control of The Greenbrier.
The allegation stems from an April 6 meeting at The Greenbrier between Justice, a Republican and former governor, and representatives of Omni’s affiliated entity, White Sulphur Springs Holdings (WSSH). The Texas-based group recently acquired nearly $300 million in first-lien debt tied to the historic resort.
In a federal court filing, WSSH attorneys claim Justice and his counsel warned the company against pursuing collection efforts.
“At that meeting, the Senator and his counsel threatened WSSH if it continued collection efforts, informing WSSH that the Justice Defendants had influence over or appointed all the state court judges in West Virginia and that WSSH could not get a fair trial in West Virginia,” the complaint states.
Justice’s private attorney, Steve Ruby, denied the allegation.
The dispute centers on control of The Greenbrier, the luxury resort Justice’s family purchased out of bankruptcy in 2009. On April 9, WSSH filed in federal court seeking the appointment of a receiver to manage the property, a move that could sideline the Justice family.
The Justice family filed its own lawsuit April 12 in Greenbrier County Circuit Court, accusing Omni’s owners of attempting to take control of the resort “by unlawful and deceptive means.”
The allegation regarding judicial influence has drawn political reaction. The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling on the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee to open an investigation.
“That allegation alone should send shockwaves through every corner of our state,” said Del. Mike Pushkin, the party’s chairman. “If a sitting U.S. senator is suggesting that our courts are compromised because of his influence, that is a direct threat to the integrity of our judicial system.”
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Josh Holstein defended Justice, accusing Democrats of putting politics ahead of the state’s economic interests.
The legal dispute over The Greenbrier is ongoing in both federal and state courts.
