Greenbrier Lawsuit 2026, Justice Family Says TRT Holdings And Carter Bank Is Trying to Steal Their Resort

The Justice family, which owns the historic Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, filed a lawsuit on April 13, 2026, accusing Carter Bank & Trust and TRT Holdings — the Dallas-based parent company of Omni Hotels — of using fraud and deception to take control of the resort. The case is now active in Greenbrier Circuit Court, with a parallel federal receivership motion filed against the Justice family just days earlier. No settlement exists at this time.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Plaintiffs	Jim Justice, Jay Justice, Jill Justice (Justice Family Group)
Defendants	Carter Bank & Trust, TRT Holdings, Robert Rowling, Blake Rowling, Michael Smith
Lawsuit Filed	April 13, 2026
Court (Justice Family Suit)	Greenbrier Circuit Court, Judge Robert E. Richardson
Federal Action	U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia
Loans at Issue	Approximately $289.48 million
Key Allegations	Fraud, breach of contract, trade secret violations
Settlement Status	None — active litigation only
Jury Trial Requested	Yes

Where Things Stand Right Now

• Late last week, TRT’s affiliate White Sulphur Springs Holdings filed in federal court to place The Greenbrier into receivership, potentially removing control from the Justice family. The motion also requests a permanent injunction to prevent the Justices from interfering with the property or its financial records.
• The Justice family responded Sunday night by filing their own lawsuit at 11:12 p.m. in Greenbrier Circuit Court, alleging fraud, breach of contract, and trade secret theft.
• Both cases are in early litigation. No hearing dates or rulings have been issued.

What Is the Greenbrier Resort Lawsuit About?

The Justice family complaint alleges that Carter Bank & Trust and TRT Holdings “are attempting to snatch The Greenbrier resort from the local ownership of the Justice family by unlawful and deceptive means.”

The Justices contend that Carter Bank acted in bad faith by blocking multiple refinancing attempts before secretly selling longstanding debt on Greenbrier properties to TRT Holdings at a significant discount. The lawsuit further claims that the defendants reneged on a settlement agreement and issued a fraudulent default notice to prevent a full loan payoff.

The filing also contends TRT Holdings illicitly obtained proprietary financial data while posing as advisors. In or around September 2024, representatives of TRT Holdings visited The Greenbrier under the pretense of serving as advisors to a private equity firm that was considering a financing relationship with the resort. During the visit, TRT allegedly acquired confidential pricing, marketing, reservation, and financial records — and gained access to areas of the resort closed to the public.

The case includes counts for fraud, breach of contract, and violations of the West Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Protection Act. The Justices are asking the court to void the loan sale entirely and block any foreclosure attempt.

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Who Are the People Involved?

Understanding who is fighting whom matters here.

The Justice Family

Bought The Greenbrier out of bankruptcy in 2009. Jim Justice — now a U.S. Senator — holds the largest share of Justice Family Group at 49 percent. Son Jay Justice holds 30 percent and daughter Jill Justice holds 21 percent. Jill serves as resort president; Jay manages the family’s coal and agricultural businesses.

Carter Bank & Trust

Based in Martinsville, Virginia, was the Justice family’s primary lender for years. Financial conflict between the bank and the Justice family played out repeatedly over the past decade. Carter regularly reported the loans as “nonaccrual status,” meaning the debt was drawing no interest payments and had become a serious liability. Earlier in April 2026, Carter sold the loans to an unaffiliated third party.

TRT Holdings

Is the Dallas-based parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts. Its principals include billionaire father and son Robert and Blake Rowling. TRT’s newly formed affiliate, White Sulphur Springs Holdings LLC, purchased approximately $289.48 million in loans — subsequently reduced to court judgments — related to Justice-owned entities.

What Did TRT Holdings Actually File in Federal Court?

White Sulphur Springs Holdings sought the immediate appointment of a receiver over each of the Justice family’s companies — with authority to seize control of their assets and operations, the right to initiate further legal proceedings, and a permanent injunction to prevent the Justices from taking any actions that would hinder the receiver’s authority.

The motion alleged that the Justice family diverted resort revenues to other businesses while failing to pay taxes and employee benefits.

TRT’s lawyers argued the Justice family’s “track record more than justifies this request,” and claimed the family had been diverting substantial resort revenue to unrelated businesses — threatening the value of TRT’s collateral.

The defendants named in the federal action include Jim Justice, his wife Cathy, son Jay, and several resort-related companies: Greenbrier Hotel Corp., Greenbrier Medical Institute LLC, Oakhurst Club LLC, Greenbrier Golf and Tennis Club Corp., Greenbrier Legacy Cottage Development Company I, Inc., and Greenbrier Legacy Cottage Development Company II, Inc.

What Did the Justice Family Say Back?

The Justice family flatly rejected TRT’s characterization. The Greenbrier issued a statement calling TRT Holdings “a predatory out-of-state company that has filed a baseless court case in an attempt to prevent The Greenbrier from paying off the TRT loans and to steal The Greenbrier from local ownership.”

The family’s lawsuit also describes a more recent attempt at cooperation that they say ultimately went nowhere. On or about March 27, 2026, Jim Justice had a phone call with Robert Rowling in which Rowling claimed TRT wanted to work cooperatively with the Justice family. On April 6, 2026, Robert and Blake Rowling and Michael Smith traveled to The Greenbrier for a meeting. During that meeting, the two sides discussed a potential framework in which TRT and its affiliates would forgive $200 million of the loans and receive a 50% ownership interest in The Greenbrier in return. That framework never materialized into an agreement — and the competing lawsuits followed.

The Financial History Behind This Fight

This dispute did not appear overnight. The Justice family has faced repeated financial pressure over the Greenbrier.

Before agreements ended them, public auctions of the Greenbrier Hotel had been scheduled for August and October 2024 in response to a loan default. The West Virginia Tax Division issued three tax lien notices to Greenbrier Hotel Corp. and Greenbrier Sporting Club Inc. in September 2025, reflecting roughly $1.36 million in unremitted taxes.

A separate Louisiana-based bank also brought claims. First Guaranty Bank stated the Justice-controlled Greenbrier Hotel Corp. owed roughly $47.7 million and growing at more than $20,000 a day as of late 2025.

The Justices did manage to avert the 2024 auctions. After months of financial uncertainty, the Justice family paid its creditor in full and the auction was canceled. The family said they were excited to have paid their obligations in full and looked forward to welcoming visitors for years to come.

The question now is whether the family can do the same with TRT Holdings — or whether a court will hand receivership control to an outside company for the first time.

What Does “Receivership” Mean for Guests and Employees?

Receivership is a legal process where a court appoints a neutral third party — called a receiver — to take over management of a business. The receiver acts independently of the current owners and answers to the court.

For The Greenbrier’s approximately 2,000 employees, receivership could mean a change in day-to-day management and operational decisions. For guests, it typically means the resort continues to operate normally while the legal fight plays out above them. Nothing changes at check-in — but ownership and control could shift significantly behind the scenes.

White Sulphur Springs Holdings stated it seeks a receiver “ultimately for the protection of The Greenbrier Resort, its employees, and the operation” of the resort. The Justice family disputes that framing entirely.

Important Dates

Milestone	Date
TRT Holdings acquires Greenbrier loans from Carter Bank	Early April 2026
TRT/WSSH files federal receivership motion	April 10, 2026
Justice family files state court lawsuit	April 13, 2026
Case assigned to Judge Robert E. Richardson	April 2026
Federal court hearings	TBD
Expected ruling on receivership motion	TBD
Resolution or settlement	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this lawsuit affect Greenbrier Resort guests right now?

 As of April 2026, the resort continues to operate normally. The legal battle plays out in courtrooms, not on the property. Guests with reservations have no immediate reason to cancel, though the situation is developing quickly and worth monitoring.

What is TRT Holdings and why does it matter? 

TRT Holdings is the Dallas-based parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts. It purchased roughly $289 million in loans tied to Justice-owned companies. As the new loan holder, it holds legal leverage that it used to file the federal receivership motion.

Can the Justice family stop the receivership?

 Yes, if a court rules in their favor. The family’s state court lawsuit argues the loans were transferred illegally and asks a judge to void the sale. If successful, that would undercut the foundation of TRT’s federal action. Both cases will proceed on parallel tracks.

Is Jim Justice personally named in this lawsuit? 

Yes. Jim Justice — currently a U.S. Senator from West Virginia — is named as both a plaintiff in the state court case and a defendant in TRT’s federal receivership motion. His wife Cathy and son Jay are also named in the federal action.

Does the Justice family owe the money TRT claims? 

The two sides sharply dispute this. The Justice family says the resort was in compliance with its loan obligations and that TRT issued a fraudulent default notice. TRT and its lawyers say the family’s long history of unpaid debts and alleged revenue diversion justify immediate court intervention.

Could The Greenbrier end up under Omni control?

 It is possible but not certain. If the federal court grants receivership and the Justice family loses the state case, TRT Holdings could ultimately gain operational control of the resort. The Justice family is fighting hard in both courts to prevent that outcome.

Is there a class action lawsuit related to The Greenbrier? 

This dispute is not a class action — it involves one ownership group fighting another over control of a business. However, if you are a Greenbrier employee with wage or benefit concerns arising from the alleged revenue diversion, you may want to consult an employment attorney about your individual rights. For related legal context, read about Carter Bank lending disputes and loan fraud lawsuits or West Virginia property fraud legal claims.

What happens to Greenbrier employees if a receiver is appointed?

 A receiver typically keeps the business running as a going concern, meaning employees continue to work. However, a receiver can make operational changes, adjust staffing, or restructure management. Employees’ existing contracts would generally remain in place unless a court orders otherwise.

Last Updated: April 14, 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.