The Greenbrier Hotel Lawsuit Explained, Tax Liens, Receivership, and What Happens to Sen. Jim Justice’s Resort

The Greenbrier Resort — the historic White Sulphur Springs landmark owned by U.S. Senator Jim Justice and his family — is now at the center of a rapidly expanding federal court battle involving $141 million in defaulted debt, $4.4 million in unpaid state taxes, and a fight over whether a Texas-based hotel company can take control of the property through court-appointed receivership. West Virginia’s state tax department has moved to intervene in the federal lawsuit because of liens it has issued over about $4.4 million in unremitted taxes. No settlement exists. This is an active, multi-party litigation moving quickly before a federal judge in Charleston.

Greenbrier Resort Lawsuit — Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	April 2026, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Primary Plaintiff	White Sulphur Springs Holdings LLC (WSSH) — affiliate of TRT Holdings, parent of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Primary Defendants	Sen. Jim Justice; Cathy Justice; Jay Justice (James C. Justice III); Greenbrier Hotel Corp. and affiliated entities
New Intervenor	West Virginia Tax Division
Tax Liens at Issue	$4.4 million+ in unremitted sales taxes, personal income tax, penalties and interest
Debt in Dispute	~$141 million in first-lien debt purchased by WSSH from Carter Bank and Trust
Relief Sought	Court-appointed receivership — neutral third party to take full operational control of The Greenbrier
Current Court Stage	Active litigation; pre-hearing conference set for June 1, 2026
Judge	Chief U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk, Southern District of West Virginia
Justice Family Counter-Suit	Filed in Greenbrier County Circuit Court alleging TRT Holdings and Carter Bank conspired to seize the resort
Next Scheduled Hearing	Pre-hearing conference, June 1, 2026
Last Updated	May 21, 2026

What Is the Greenbrier Hotel Lawsuit About? White Sulphur Springs Holdings LLC v. Justice et al., S.D.W. Va.

This is not a single lawsuit — it is a collision of several legal fronts, all centered on one question: who controls The Greenbrier Resort, and who gets paid first if it falls?

The historic resort has been owned by Senator Jim Justice and his family since they purchased it out of bankruptcy in May 2009. For years, the property has remained central to the Justice family business empire even as financial pressures mounted. Those pressures came to a head in 2024, when the resort was listed for courthouse-steps auction after defaulting on a loan originally held by JPMorgan Chase.

The immediate trigger for the current federal lawsuit is a debt transfer. White Sulphur Springs Holdings LLC — a company linked to Texas-based TRT Holdings, the parent company of Omni Hotels and Resorts, owned by billionaire Robert Rowling — purchased the remaining loan debt on the Greenbrier previously owed to Virginia-based Carter Bank and Trust. WSSH is now petitioning Chief U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk to appoint a receiver to oversee the Greenbrier Resort and its affiliated entities, alleging that the Justice family has defaulted on more than $141 million in remaining debt while allowing the historic property to fall into physical and financial ruin.

Receivership — the remedy WSSH is seeking — is a court-ordered process where a neutral third party takes over management of an asset during litigation or insolvency. A receiver for the Greenbrier would take away the Justice family’s keys and could be allowed to pursue a sale or bankruptcy. The Justice family calls the entire case a sham. An attorney for the Justice family wrote that “the case before this Court is nothing more than a sham brought by a competing hotel operator trying to snatch away ownership of The Greenbrier.”

Now West Virginia’s own tax department has stepped into the middle of this fight to protect its share of what Greenbrier Hotel Corp. owes.

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West Virginia’s $4.4 Million Tax Lien Problem at The Greenbrier

The state’s decision to intervene is not symbolic — West Virginia wants to make sure it does not get squeezed out when assets are divvied up.

According to an exhibit filed with the motion to intervene, there are 10 active tax liens placed against Greenbrier Hotel Corp. dating back to May 2025 through November 2025, totaling more than $4.4 million in back taxes not remitted to the State of West Virginia, including additions and penalties. Most represent sales taxes collected from customers but not remitted to the state — meaning The Greenbrier charged guests sales tax, pocketed the money, and never forwarded it to West Virginia’s tax department. One lien also covers unremitted personal income tax collections.

The state has been actively updating its lien filings. Recent actions included withdrawing two older liens while simultaneously adding four new ones, covering tax periods stretching from July through October 2025 and totaling roughly $2.36 million combined in that batch alone.

The lawyers for the state tax department wrote: “The Defendants owe millions in unpaid Consumers Sales and Services Taxes to the Tax Division.” They argue intervention is necessary to protect West Virginia’s claim on millions of dollars owed by Greenbrier Hotel Corp. Without intervention, the state risks being treated as a junior creditor behind WSSH’s $141 million first-lien position in any court-ordered asset distribution.

This type of property damage compensation and tax enforcement dispute — where a state’s tax claim competes with private creditors in a receivership — requires the state to formally join the case or risk losing its place in line.

Are You Affected by the Greenbrier Hotel Lawsuit?

This is not a class action and there is no claim form. But several groups of people have a direct stake in what happens next.

You may be directly affected if:

• You are a current or former employee of The Greenbrier Resort — receivership or a sale would directly affect your employment and benefits
• You are a vendor, contractor, or supplier owed money by Greenbrier Hotel Corp. — a receivership or bankruptcy could affect your ability to collect
• You are a guest with existing reservations at The Greenbrier — a change in management or ownership could affect bookings and gift card values
• You are a West Virginia taxpayer — $4.4 million in unremitted taxes owed by a private business affects public funds

You are NOT a party to this lawsuit if:

• You are simply a member of the public who visited The Greenbrier as a guest and have no ongoing financial relationship with the resort
• You hold no debt, contract, or employment relationship with any Justice-affiliated entity connected to the resort

If you are a vendor or former employee owed money by Greenbrier Hotel Corp. or any Justice-affiliated entity, consult a consumer rights lawyer or employment discrimination attorney about your independent rights to pursue collection or wages claims.

What Are the Greenbrier Plaintiffs Seeking?

WSSH’s primary goal is receivership — not damages. The complaint asks Judge Frank Volk to appoint a receiver to take full operational control of The Greenbrier Resort following the termination of a forbearance agreement, with the receiver allowed to pursue a sale or bankruptcy.

The Omni affiliate also alleges that the Justice defendants used at least $5 million of Greenbrier Hotel Corp. funds to buy a helicopter and a private jet, and that the resort’s occupancy rate has declined more than 10% since 2022 in contrast with regional competitors. The WSSH attorneys accuse the Justice family of “looting Greenbrier Hotel Corp.’s coffers to fund other ventures.”

The federal complaint also states the Greenbrier Resort defendants have failed to pay real estate taxes for 2025 and a portion of 2024, totaling in excess of $3.2 million, arguing this compounds the case for immediate receivership.

West Virginia’s Tax Division is seeking something narrower: the right to participate in the federal case so that its $4.4 million in tax liens are recognized and prioritized in any court-ordered asset resolution. No criminal charges have been filed against Sen. Justice or any family member in connection with these tax matters.

Greenbrier Hotel Resort Lawsuit — Timeline

Milestone	Date
Justice family purchases Greenbrier out of bankruptcy	May 2009
Greenbrier listed for courthouse auction over JPMorgan loan default	Late 2024
WV Tax Division begins filing sales tax liens against Greenbrier Hotel Corp.	August 2024 onward
TRT Holdings / WSSH acquires ~$300M in first-lien debt from Carter Bank	Early 2026
WSSH files federal receivership lawsuit in U.S. District Court, S.D.W. Va.	April 2026
Justice family files counter-suit in Greenbrier County Circuit Court	April 2026
Judge Frank Volk schedules evidentiary hearing	April 20, 2026
Justice family moves to stay federal case; WSSH files amended complaint	May 2026
West Virginia Tax Division moves to intervene	May 20, 2026
Pre-hearing conference before Judge Volk	June 1, 2026
Full evidentiary hearing / receivership ruling	TBD — date not yet set
Expected resolution	TBD — litigation is in active, contested phase

Frequently Asked Questions — Greenbrier Hotel Lawsuit

Is there a class action lawsuit against The Greenbrier or Greenbrier Hotel Corp.?

No. This is a multi-party civil litigation and creditor dispute, not a class action. The case is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia before Chief Judge Frank W. Volk. The parties are WSSH, the Justice family entities, and now the West Virginia Tax Division as an intervenor.

What is receivership and what would it mean for The Greenbrier?

Receivership is a court-ordered remedy where a neutral third party takes control of a business or property during a legal dispute. A receiver appointed for The Greenbrier would take control away from the Justice family and would be empowered to pursue a sale of the property or a bankruptcy filing. The Justice family would lose day-to-day operational control of the resort.

Why is West Virginia’s tax department getting involved?

The West Virginia Tax Division moved to intervene because of liens it has issued over about $4.4 million in unremitted taxes. Lawyers for the state say intervention is necessary to protect West Virginia’s claim on millions of dollars owed by Greenbrier Hotel Corp. Without formal intervention, the state’s tax claims could be subordinated to WSSH’s larger creditor position.

Does Sen. Jim Justice deny these allegations?

Yes. The Justice family argues the debt transfer is part of an orchestrated scheme by a competing hotel operator trying to seize The Greenbrier through unlawful means. The Justice family also contends that the property is significantly oversecured, with collateral values exceeding one billion dollars, making receivership unnecessary.

When will the Greenbrier lawsuit be resolved?

TBD — the case is moving quickly but remains in active litigation. A pre-hearing conference is scheduled for June 1, 2026 between attorneys for WSSH and the Justice family. A full evidentiary hearing date has not yet been publicly confirmed. Given the complexity of the competing claims, a final resolution could take months or longer.

Can I file a claim if I am owed money by The Greenbrier or Greenbrier Hotel Corp.?

Not through this lawsuit. If you are a vendor, former employee, or contractor owed money by a Justice-affiliated Greenbrier entity, you would need to pursue a separate legal claim. Consult a qualified attorney about your rights and the best way to protect your position, particularly in light of the receivership petition and state tax liens already ahead of unsecured creditors.

Sources & References

1. WV MetroNews: State Moves to Intervene in Lawsuit Over The Greenbrier Over $4.4 Million in Tax Liens (May 20, 2026)
2. The Intelligencer / Associated Press: State Tax Department Wants Say in Federal Case Over Justice-Owned Greenbrier Resort (May 20, 2026)
3. WV MetroNews: Company That Scooped Up Debt on The Greenbrier Moves in Federal Court for Receivership (April 10, 2026)
4. WV Gazette-Mail: Omni Affiliate Lists Justice Debts in Greenbrier Seizure Bid (May 2026)
5. Weirton Daily Times: Amended Documents Filed in Federal Case to Appoint Receivership for Justice-Owned Greenbrier (May 2026)
6. West Virginia Public Broadcasting: Judge Sets Hearing in Contentious Fight Over Greenbrier Resort (April 20, 2026)

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against court filings and West Virginia news sources on May 21, 2026. Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.