WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — A federal judge has scheduled an evidentiary hearing next month in a dispute over control of The Greenbrier, a historic luxury resort in southern West Virginia.
U.S. District Judge Frank Volk set the hearing for 9:30 a.m. May 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The proceeding marks a key step in a legal battle involving U.S. Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), and business entities owned by his family.
An affiliate of TRT Holdings, the parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts, filed suit seeking to place The Greenbrier under the control of a court-appointed third-party receiver. TRT Holdings is owned by Texas billionaire Robert Rowling, and his son, Blake Rowling, serves as president. Omni operates more than 50 luxury properties.
According to court filings, TRT’s newly created White Sulphur Springs Holdings purchased nearly $300 million in first-lien debt tied to The Greenbrier and related properties and is seeking receivership of the resort.
The Justice family, which acquired The Greenbrier in 2009, has filed counterclaims arguing that TRT’s purchase of the debt should be invalidated, alleging the buyer relied on insider information to gain an unfair advantage.
The Greenbrier, a five-star resort, includes 710 guest rooms, four golf courses and a private casino with 320 slot machines and 35 table games.
In a scheduling order, Volk indicated the case carries significant implications not only for the parties involved but also for residents of West Virginia.
The order set deadlines for additional filings, including response briefs due April 27 and reply briefs due May 4, and scheduled a prehearing conference for 11 a.m. May 7.
Volk also criticized both legal teams for failing to follow procedural rules and professional standards, citing improper filing formats by attorneys for TRT and a lack of supporting legal authority in motions filed by attorneys representing the Justice businesses.
