The Billionaire Governor Who’s Been Sued Dozens of Times for Millions in Unpaid Bills
Gov. Jim Justice is West Virginia’s richest man. Over the last three decades, lawsuits over unpaid bills have cost his constellation of companies more than $128 million in judgments and settlements.
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See Who’s Taken Gov. Jim Justice to Court Over Unpaid Bills
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a billionaire and the state’s richest man, has a long list of debt-collection cases. In the most complete analysis of his legal record to date, ProPublica found dozens totaling more than $128 million.
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This Governor Still Guides His Billion-Dollar Business Empire, Even Though He Said He Wouldn’t
Jim Justice promised West Virginians he would focus on public service, and not his businesses, once he was elected. But he’s frequently used his power as governor to promote his own corporate entities while running the state.
Local Reporting Network
Lawmakers Call for Ethics Reform to Deal With Billionaire Resort-Owning Governor
West Virginia legislators want Gov. Jim Justice to put The Greenbrier in a blind trust after a Charleston Gazette-Mail and ProPublica investigation. But the governor dismisses the report as “garbage.”
Welcome to the Greenbrier, the Governor-Owned Luxury Resort Filled With Conflicts of Interest
Gov. Jim Justice is West Virginia’s richest man and owns its most storied resort. When lobbyists and state agencies book there, he profits. Here’s how the governor, dubbed “Big Jim,” became West Virginia’s little Trump.
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Fracking Companies Lost on Trespassing, but a Court Just Gave Them a Different Win
As conflicts continue between West Virginians and the state’s natural gas industry, complex legal cases are helping some residents, but not others.
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Court to Big Fracking Company: Trespassing Still Exists — Even For You
In a key property rights decision, two West Virginia residents scored a rare victory from the state Supreme Court.
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Large Natural Gas Producer to Pay West Virginia Plaintiffs $53.5 Million to Settle Royalty Dispute
As our investigation detailed, EQT Corp. had been accused of deducting a variety of unacceptable charges from natural gas royalty checks. The company says it wants to “turn over a new leaf” in its relationship with the state’s residents.
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Powerless: What It Looks and Sounds Like When a Gas Driller Overruns Your Land
The gas rush is upending communities with traffic and noise, reshaping the way the state looks and sounds. Residents are often powerless to stop it.
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He is West Virginia’s Speaker of the House — and a Lawyer for Natural Gas Companies
State ethics rules seldom prevent lawmakers from proposing or voting on legislation that affects industries they work for.
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