A Virginia bank has announced that it will delay the auction of land at West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's resort in an effort to recover over $300 million in defaulted business loans by the governor's family. Carter Bank & Trust of Martinsville, Virginia, made this decision and rescheduled the auction originally set for March 5 to a later date. The bank also requested a postponement of a hearing requested by the Greenbrier Sporting Club in White Sulphur Springs for a preliminary injunction against the bank.
Carter Bank had published a legal notice in the Charleston Gazette-Mail on Feb. 6 regarding the auction involving land at the Greenbrier Sporting Club. The bank is seeking to collect $302 million in principal debt, along with interest and fees, from companies owned by the governor's family. The bank acknowledged the interest of homeowners within the Greenbrier Sporting Club development in the matter and mentioned the possibility of them taking action.
The Greenbrier Sporting Club, a private equity club and residential community established in 2000, expressed concerns in a circuit court complaint filed on Feb. 7. They stated that the auction could put thousands of jobs at risk and cause severe damage to both the club and the Greenbrier Resort, which is the largest employer in the county. The complaint also requested a jury trial to address claims made by the Justice family against Carter Bank.
The complaint highlighted that the Justice companies had attempted to move their banking business from Carter Bank to other lenders on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023. However, the bank allegedly obstructed these efforts. A federal lawsuit filed by the Justice companies against the bank in November is currently pending.
Jim Justice, a Republican who owns numerous companies, has faced several court claims alleging late payments of fines, including for safety violations at his coal mines. Justice is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Joe Manchin, who has confirmed that he will not seek reelection.
