Plant dispute may be resolved

Wednesday, July 10, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

A disagreement over who owns a $40 million utility plant that provides hot and cold water for the bankrupt Aladdin Resort & Casino could be settled within a matter of days, say attorneys for both parties.

Aladdin and Northwind Aladdin, which operates the plant, have sued each other over ownership of the facility.

Their attorneys appeared before U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert C. Jones on Tuesday to extend a hearing on a motion for summary judgment, which would outline debts owed by Aladdin, to July 22. A court date for the suit has been set for Sept. 9. Attorneys told Jones, however, that they may settle over the next week or two.

Aladdin attorney William Noall said the dispute isn't holding up the bankruptcy proceeding. "The process is moving forward," he said.

The settlement is one of several issues that need to be resolved before the $1.2 billion hotel-casino can be sold. The Strip property, which declared bankruptcy about 13 months after it opened, will be sold in a court-supervised auction. The property is now being marketed to potential bidders that have not yet been officially disclosed.

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