On Feb. 25, a federal judge ruled that a company owned by Greenbrier resort owner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Justice pay $1.23 million in fines for contempt of court.
U.S. district Court Judge Irene C. Berger issued the order after finding Justice Energy Company Inc. in contempt on Jan. 5 for failing to pay nearly $150,000 owed to James River Equipment, a construction equipment company. Berger ordered Justice Energy Company to pay $30,000 per day in fines, starting Jan. 5, until the company was in compliance.
After failing to pay the debts and failing to show for court hearings, Berger issued the order requiring the company to pay over $1 million in fines.
According to court documents, Justice Energy Company missed several payments in January and February, but paid up on Feb. 15. If the company fails to make the payments, the $30,000-per-day rule will be reinstated.
The payment plan must be complete by Apr. 1.
According to Justice Energy Company spokesperson Tom Lusk, the repayments are a step toward cleaning up the financial mess left by the Russian-owned operation that owned the company and ran up the debt.