court

Barnes issued another $35 per week judgement

HARTFORD, CT- A Connecticut Superior Court judge has ordered James Barnes to make weekly payments to the title insurance company that insured the Hermitage Club’s mortgages with Berkshire Bank.
Hartford Superior Court Judge A. Susan Peck ordered Barnes to pay $35 per week to Fidelity Life...

James Barnes

Barnes ordered to pay $35 per week

HARTFORD, CT- A Connecticut court has ordered former Hermitage Club owner James Barnes to pay $35 per week on a $1.3 million debt owed to Douglas Hollenbeck, one of the club’s founding members and investors.
The order follows a 2019 judgment in a Windham County, VT, court, as well as a...

Judge rules default after Barnes fails to show up

HARTFORD, CT- A Connecticut court granted a motion for default judgement against James Barnes last week in a lawsuit filed by a former Hermitage Club investor.
According to the court docket and Hollenbeck’s motion, Barnes never answered the Connecticut suit or made an appearance in the...

In March 2018, the Vermont Department of Taxes shut down the Hermitage for failure to pay rooms, meals, alcohol, and sales taxes. The same month, Berkshire Bank filed for foreclosure on the Hermitage for failure to pay $17 million in loans, About a year later, a group of creditors forced the Hermitage into bankruptcy. The Hermitage real estate and other assets were sold at auction to the Hermitage Club Member Group in March 2020. Barnes' appeal of the bankruptcy court's sale order was dismissed last week.

Judge dismisses Barnes' bankruptcy sale appeals

By Mike Eldred
BURLINGTON- Vermont District Court Judge Christina Reiss has dismissed former Hermitage owner James Barnes’ appeals in the bankruptcy sale of Hermitage assets to the Hermitage Member Group.
In her decision, Reiss ultimately found that the court lacked jurisdiction...

The Watch Hill estate formerly owned by Donna and Jim Barnes, in Westerly, RI, was sold at a bankruptcy auction in March. File photo

Judge approves Barnes settlement

HARTFORD, CT- A Connecticut District Bankruptcy Court judge has granted a motion for a settlement with a group of Hermitage creditors in Donna Barnes’ personal bankruptcy case.
In his decision, Judge James Tancredi rejected an objection by Hermitage creditor Reinhart Foodservice in which...

Pandemic pauses court decision in Barnes case

HARTFORD, CT- The plaintiff in an uncontested case against James Barnes can’t get a judgment for damages, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hartford Superior Court Judge Mark H. Taylor has twice deferred a decision on a motion for judgment by Fidelity National Title Insurance Company in...

Hermitage Clubhouse

Berkshire Bank seeks order on Hermitage real estate sale closing

BURLINGTON- Vermont District Bankruptcy Court Judge Colleen Brown has ordered a hearing this week on Berkshire Bank's emergency motion to compel the closing of the sale of Hermitage property.
Berkshire Bank filed their motion on Friday, after the Hermitage Club Member Group failed to close...

Judge extends Hermitage bankruptcy auction to March, more bidders may show up

BURLINGTON- Vermont District Bankruptcy Court Judge Colleen Brown postponed the sale of Hermitage assets to March 20, following a hearing on Friday, January 31.
A number of issued raised in objections by creditors, bidders, potential bidders, and other interested parties were settled...

Court wants to make sure Hermitage creditors paid after property sale

HARTFORD, CT- The Connecticut District Bankruptcy Court has ordered Donna Barnes to amend court documents to ensure Hermitage creditors with liens on the couple’s Rhode Island property are paid upon sale of the property.
Four creditors, including three Hermitage creditors, filed...

The Barnstormer Summit Lift

Court encumbers Barnes’ summit lift equity

HARTFORD, CT- A Connecticut judge has granted a motion by a former Hermitage employee to place a lien on Hermitage owner James Barnes interest in Barnstormer Summit Lift LLC.
Former Hermitage Chief Financial Officer Dan Solaz, who was also one of three creditors who initiated the Hermitage...