Beach access countersuit filed

By Rick Adair, Bonanza Staff Writer

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.