MO couple drop plans to purchase Marshall Mt, but seek damages

A Missouri doctor and his family are apparently giving up plans to buy the Marshall Mountain Ski Area.

HIS FAMILY ARE GIVING UPPLANS TO BUY THEMARSHALL MOUNTAIN SKIAREA.

BUT THEY'RE STILLSEEKING DAMAGES FROMTHE OWNERS OF THE RESORT.AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,THE NAME OF A LOCALBUSINESSMAN ISMENTIONED AS THE"BACKUP BUYER".AS WE REPORTED LASTWEEK, SPENCER ANDCOLETTE MELBY FILED THEBREACH OF CONTRACT INLATE MAY AGAINST BRUCEAND KIM DOERING, WHOARE SELLING THE 156-ACREPROPERTY AT THE HEAD OFMARSHALL CANYON.THE MELBY'S SAID THEYAGREED TO BUY THESHUTTERED RESORT FOR JUSTOVER 2-POINT-1 MILLIONDOLLARS.

BUT THEYCOMPLAINED THE DEAL RANINTO PROBLEMS WHEN THEDOERINGS ADDEDEXEMPTIONS ALLOWINGCONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESSFOR MOUNTAIN BIKING ANDBACKCOUNTRY SKIING,WHICH THEY'VE PERMITTEDFOR YEARS.

THE OWNERSTERMINATED THE DEAL MAY22ND, PROMISING TOCOVER LEGAL FEES ANDREIMBURSEMENTS.THE MELBY'S WEREUNABLE TO GET MISSOULADISTRICT COURT TO CLOSETHE SALE LAST WEEK, ANDHAVE NOW FILED ANAMENDED COMPLAINT TOSEEK DAMAGES AT TRIAL,CLAIMING BREACH OFCONTRACT AND EMOTIONALDISTRESS.THE MISSOULA CURRENTREPORTS ADDITIONALLY THENEW PAPERS SHOW MELBYHAD BEEN RECRUITED AS ADOCTOR BY PROVIDENCEHEALTH, AND WERE IN THEPROCESS OF MOVING TOMISSOULA.

AND ATTORNEYSNAME LOCALBUSINESSMAN AND MUSICPROMOTER NICK CHECOTAAS THE MAN WHO HADSUBMITTED THE BACKUPOFFER.AT THIS POINT, WE'VEHEARD NO FURTHER DETAILSON WHETHER THAT BACKUPOFFER IS STILL IN PLAY.FOR MORE DETAILS, READTHE STORY AT OUR NEWSPARTNER'S WEBSITE,MISSOULA-CURRENT-DOT-COM.THE KEYSTONE XLPIPELINE PROJECT HASOF