October 5, 2001
A countersuit seeking to keep local beach access
restricted was filed Tuesday, according to Mike Johnson, attorney
for Village League to Save Incline Assets, Inc.
The action
is a response to the case filed in July by 2001 Beach Access, Inc.,
against the Incline Village General Improvement District. In the
countersuit, Johnson's clients, who include League incorporator and
Incline commercial Realtor Maryanne Ingemanson, cite concerns that
Incline property values would drop if access is widened.
2001 Beach Access attorney Stephen Mollath said his client,
incorporated by Incline resident Chuck Bluth, wants to gain access
to Incline and Burnt Cedar beaches for property owners within IVGID
who are excluded because of a 1968 deed restriction.
Ingemanson said her countersuit was filed because, although
Mollath had promised to include her group as a party to his suit by
Sept. 21, he instead "dragged his feet." But Mollath countered that
it made more sense to wait for IVGID's response to see how to
"package" the various parties to the suit.
IVGID recently
chose outside counsel, the Reno firm Woodburn and Wedge, to prepare
for the case. Its response to the 2001 Beach Access suit is expected
by mid-October.