by news-item staff
SUNBURY - A lawsuit filed against the Valley Gun and Country Club and its officers will be headed for trial after Judge William H. Wiest ruled not to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Pennsylvania State Sportmen's Association (PSSA).
In a press release issued by the PSSA, President Michael Schuler indicated that he was pleased with Wiest's decision.
"We would have never brought the lawsuit if we did not believe it to have merit. The PSSA feels vindicated that the court agrees with us," he said.
The PSSA filed a lawsuit March 28 against the club and its officers, President John S. Mushalko Jr., Vice President Edward W. Rakaskie, Secretary Lamar Richie, all of Elysburg, and Andrew Panko, of Catawissa, claiming the club violated a Jan. 18, 1995, agreement between the two parties to transfer the ownership of the club to the PSSA.
According to conditions set forth in the 1995 agreement and contained in the lawsuit, the gun and country club agreed to not accept the introduction, election to or membership of any additional "A" members from the date of the agreement forward.
Another condition states that upon the death of the last of any existing "A" members of the gun and country club, as of the date of the agreement, operation and all assets of the club shall be distributed to the PSSA.
PSSA has said that if they are unable to obtain the title to the property, it will no longer invest in improvements to the shooting fields, trap houses and vendor buildings, and leave the community.
The association hosts several events at the Valley Gun and Country Club, including an annual nine-day trapshoot in June that attracts over 2,000 competitors from the United States, Canada and other countries, along with many spectators and employs 300 people, including students.
Schuler further expressed his hope that after this ruling, the club would cease the "time-consuming and expensive litigation and work with the PSSA to promptly fulfill the terms of the agreement the parties signed in 1995."
"That will benefit everyone, not just the parties to the lawsuit, but the entire community," said Schuler.
PSSA states in its complaint that it has paid $550,000 plus all yearly taxes over the last 15 years, based on a payment of one cent for every clay target thrown on the grounds. The two entities evenly split the proceeds from any recovery of lead.
The court documents detailing the decision from Wiest was filed Feb. 3.
Mushalko was unable to be reached Tuesday.
Officials say that the economic gain generated by the shoot is estimated at $1 million a year.