Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Greenbrier said in a court filing this week it plans to shut down its casino and lay off up to 90 workers amid a refinancing deal unless certain conditions are met.
The move comes as the family of U.S. Sen. Jim Justice works to close a refinancing deal with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management in an ongoing federal debt and receivership dispute, according to a status report filed on Wednesday.
The filing said the decision to close the casino was made as the West Virginia Lottery could not weigh in on the transaction before the planned closing of the deal Friday.
“This will result in the layoff of approximately 90 casino employees, which Defendants deeply regret, as well as a loss of revenue to the State, which is also regrettable,” the Justice family said in the filing.
The defendants said any further delay beyond Friday would result in additional costs and threaten the transaction altogether.
“Defendants have diligently provided information to the Lottery for more than two months and have promptly responded to all information requests from the Lottery,” the filing said. “Defendants also have informed the Lottery of the urgent time constraints created by this litigation, that the amount defendants must pay to close their refinancing is increasing by approximately $145,000 per day because of interest charges, and that further delay will cost defendants hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional professional fees.”
The West Virginia Lottery responded to the Justice family’s attorney in a letter Wednesday, which was shared with WCHS-TV, that addressed several issues with the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation’s allegations, most notably saying the Lottery wasn’t notified until Aug. 11 that the casino was at risk of closing and that the casino’s closure is not impacted by its pending decision.
The Justice family also noted in its filing that it needs cooperation from the plaintiffs in the case in order to close the deal Friday.
In a statement to WCHS-TV, Justice family attorney Steve Ruby said the key outstanding issue in the deal is the Lottery’s approval.
Because the Lottery Commission has not granted approval, casino employees are being provided WARN notices and will continue to receive pay and benefits during the 60-day notice period,” Ruby said in the statement. “We are hopeful this regulatory matter will be resolved during that period, allowing casino operations to resume and employees to return to work. If it is not resolved, we will have no choice but to terminate the affected positions.
Ruby said the issue is limited to casino operations and the remainder of The Greenbrier remains open and fully operating.
The decision to close the casino is the latest development in an ongoing court battle initiated by White Sulphur Springs Holdings, a Texas-based affiliate of Omni Hotels & Resorts, against the Justice family and businesses tied to The Greenbrier.
White Sulphur Spring Holdings, which purchased $300 million in debt on The Greenbrier, has been attempting to enforce debt obligations of the Justice family and has pursued a receivership in the case, effectively attempting to push the Justice family out.
Meanwhile, the Justice family has been pursuing a proposed $500 million refinancing transaction with the New York-based KLIM that it has said would satisfy the debt dispute and avoid receivership proceedings. The case has seen repeated deadline extensions as the Justice family has pursued the deal.
The most recent action in the case saw U.S. District Judge Frank Volk extending a delay to Aug. 7, and after that date passed ordered the Justice family to file an update by Friday.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/greenbrier-discloses-plans-to-shut-down-casino-lay-off-workers-amid-refinancing-deal
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The Greenbrier said in a court filing this week it plans to shut down its casino and lay off up to 90 workers amid a refinancing deal unless certain conditions are met.
The move comes as the family of U.S. Sen. Jim Justice works to close a refinancing deal with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management in an ongoing federal debt and receivership dispute, according to a status report filed on Wednesday.
The filing said the decision to close the casino was made as the West Virginia Lottery could not weigh in on the transaction before the planned closing of the deal Friday.
“This will result in the layoff of approximately 90 casino employees, which Defendants deeply regret, as well as a loss of revenue to the State, which is also regrettable,” the Justice family said in the filing.
The defendants said any further delay beyond Friday would result in additional costs and threaten the transaction altogether.
“Defendants have diligently provided information to the Lottery for more than two months and have promptly responded to all information requests from the Lottery,” the filing said. “Defendants also have informed the Lottery of the urgent time constraints created by this litigation, that the amount defendants must pay to close their refinancing is increasing by approximately $145,000 per day because of interest charges, and that further delay will cost defendants hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional professional fees.”
The West Virginia Lottery responded to the Justice family’s attorney in a letter Wednesday, which was shared with WCHS-TV, that addressed several issues with the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation’s allegations, most notably saying the Lottery wasn’t notified until Aug. 11 that the casino was at risk of closing and that the casino’s closure is not impacted by its pending decision.
The Justice family also noted in its filing that it needs cooperation from the plaintiffs in the case in order to close the deal Friday.
In a statement to WCHS-TV, Justice family attorney Steve Ruby said the key outstanding issue in the deal is the Lottery’s approval.
Because the Lottery Commission has not granted approval, casino employees are being provided WARN notices and will continue to receive pay and benefits during the 60-day notice period,” Ruby said in the statement. “We are hopeful this regulatory matter will be resolved during that period, allowing casino operations to resume and employees to return to work. If it is not resolved, we will have no choice but to terminate the affected positions.
Ruby said the issue is limited to casino operations and the remainder of The Greenbrier remains open and fully operating.
The decision to close the casino is the latest development in an ongoing court battle initiated by White Sulphur Springs Holdings, a Texas-based affiliate of Omni Hotels & Resorts, against the Justice family and businesses tied to The Greenbrier.
White Sulphur Spring Holdings, which purchased $300 million in debt on The Greenbrier, has been attempting to enforce debt obligations of the Justice family and has pursued a receivership in the case, effectively attempting to push the Justice family out.
Meanwhile, the Justice family has been pursuing a proposed $500 million refinancing transaction with the New York-based KLIM that it has said would satisfy the debt dispute and avoid receivership proceedings. The case has seen repeated deadline extensions as the Justice family has pursued the deal.
The most recent action in the case saw U.S. District Judge Frank Volk extending a delay to Aug. 7, and after that date passed ordered the Justice family to file an update by Friday.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/greenbrier-discloses-plans-to-shut-down-casino-lay-off-workers-amid-refinancing-deal
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
