Laserfiche WebLink
BRATTON ENTERPRISES, INC. <br />P.O. BOX 43 <br />YAMPA, CO. 80483 <br />970-638-4534 (OFFICE PHONE) <br />PERMIT#: M-1981-088 <br />August 3, 2016 <br /> <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety, <br />RE: Continuing Litigation <br /> In Feb. Mr. Engle, attorney for Highland Springs Ranch (HSR) took the depositions of Phillip Courtney and <br />Gary Melonas from the State Land Board. In March Mr. Engle took the depositions of my dad Jim, my husband Travis and me. <br />Our attorney John Vanderbloemen, as well as the attorney for the Colorado Attorney general’s office, Virginia Sciabbarrasi <br />attended all of the depositions. In May, Virginia Sciatiobbarrasi, along with our attorney John Vanderbloemen took the <br />deposition of Dillon Schickli of HSR. Later in May we (State of Colorado, HSR, and Bratton Enterprises) were required to attend <br />a Mediation Settlement Conference at Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc. in Denver, with Judge Robert Kepelke. That was a total <br />waste of our time and money, as well as the States. Mr. Schickli would not even try to reach an agreement. The State made <br />several offers, and we backed the State with additional offers, but no luck. The only thing that Mr. Schickli would consider as a <br />settlement was a trade from the State Land Board. He wanted to trade approx. 25-30 acres of his reservation land where the pit <br />is located for 360 acres of State School Trust Land that boarders his ranch. He also wanted Bratton to pay him 98,000.00 and <br />pay all of his attorney fees, of course the State and Bratton did not accept that. Then as the trial was still set for June, Judge <br />Hill, canceled the Trail because she did not have enough time to go through all of the paper filings. We have been waiting for <br />her ruling, which we received this past Friday. She ruled that the State of Colorado does own the minerals IF it is proven during <br />trial that they are under the surface. IF the minerals are proven to be under the surface, then the State will be able to access the <br />State Land to the North, if not we will not have access to the State Land to the North and adjacent to the Schickli Reservation. <br />She set the first trial date for November 2 & 3, but said if she has a cancelation in her schedule, she may be able to move it up <br />to sometime in October. There is no doubt that this case probably go directly into appeals after trial. That is all I know for now. <br />I will let you know if the trial date gets moved up. <br />Sincerely, <br />Stephanie Bratton Pinnt <br />Office Manager at Bratton Enterprises, Inc <br /> <br />