A Hamilton County Circuit Court judge on Monday agreed to hear more arguments in a dispute involving the owner of the former St. George Hotel in the Southside and a well-known businessman.
Judge Kyle Hedrick permitted an attorney for property owner Marta Adler to amend her lawsuit against Chattanooga businessman James D. “Donnie” Hutcherson.
The judge set another hearing for Sept. 9 in which lawyers for Alder and Hutcherson are seeking summary judgment on the suit, which was filed earlier this year by the owner of the dilapidated hotel property across Market Street from the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
“From my perspective this contract is pretty clear … ,” said the judge toward the end of a two-hour hearing before agreeing to listen to more arguments next month.
St. George Holdings, a company controlled by Alder, bought the building in 2013 and has plans for a new hotel at the site. Hutcherson loaned her $700,000 in 2017 to get the project started, court papers show.