MONTROSE – The long legal fight between JetAway Aviation and Montrose County may finally be over.
On Wednesday, March 28, United States Federal District Court Judge Richard Matsch granted pending motions for summary judgment and entered a judgment dismissing all of Jetaway’s claims against all of the defendants in the anti-trust lawsuit JetAway brought against the county and others in 2007.
The defendants were also awarded costs.
This case was one more in a series of court and FAA complaints, dating back to January 2006, over the county’s awarding fixed-base operator status, brought by JetAway and its principals against Montrose County. All have been decided in the county’s favor.
Consistent with the rulings in the other proceedings, the Federal District Court dismissed Jetaway’s claims against all the defendants. In this case, in addition to dismissing all claims filed against the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners, the court also dismissed the claims filed against all other defendants: the Montrose County Building Authority, Black Canyon Jet Center, and Jet Center Partners, as well as the claims filed against Bill Patterson, Jim Rumble and Kevin Egan as individuals.
Commissioner Gary Ellis said, “Unfortunately this lawsuit has been very costly in both financial impacts and staff time. It’s been a distraction for the commissioners and county staff and prevented us from focusing on other county issues. I’ve lived this for five going on six years and was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to end. Thankfully we’ve prevailed before Judge Matsch.”
“I would hope that from this point on there’s a healing process that takes place in the Montrose community,” said Commissioner David White.
When asked about his feelings on the ruling Commissioner Ron Henderson said, “I sincerely hope this is the end.”
“This is further vindication of the county, given all of the allegations that have been made against the county and county officials since 2006,” said Bob Hill, Montrose County Attorney.
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