Park City wins legal round involving Vail Resorts
By Christopher Smart, Salt Lake Tribune
Park City Mountain Resort won the latest round in its legal fight with Talisker Land Holdings LLC Wednesday and can argue that it had “first right of refusal” to buy ski terrain adjacent to the historic mining town that is now the subject of a lease dispute.
Summit County’s 3rd District Judge Ryan Harris ruled in favor of PCMR’s motion to broaden its 2011 complaint against Talisker. PCMR now can contend in court hearings that, according to its lease with Talisker, it had the “first right of refusal” to buy the land that is now being sought by Vail Resorts Inc.
The ruling is the latest development in the lawsuit PCMR filed in March 2012 against Talisker after the Canadian-based company informed PCMR that it had failed to meet an April 30, 2011, lease extension deadline on the ski terrain.
According to PCMR’s attorney Alan Sullivan, Talisker’s agreement with Vail that allows the Colorado-based resort corporation to seek control of 3,700 acres of ski terrain adjacent to Park City violates the 1971 lease agreement between PCMR and United Park City Mines, which was purchased by Talisker.