A lending company has asked for court permission to sell Don Johnson’s 17-acre Woody Creek ranch, claiming the “Miami Vice” actor hasn’t made good on a $10.6 million note, the Aspen Daily News reported.
New York-based D.E. Shaw Laminar Lending Inc. filed the motion March 16 in Pitkin County District Court. The motion was made public Wednesday.
Johnson’s publicist, Elliott Mintz, told the newspaper the filing has been “remedied” and will be withdrawn.
The motion says “defaults have occurred under the deed of trust, including ... the failure to timely make payments as required under the deed of trust.”
The note was taken out in August 2004, about four months before a lawyer announced that creditors listed on Johnson’s bankruptcy petitions had been paid.
Debtors included Los Angeles-based City National Bank, which sought to auction off the ranch to recoup $930,000 it claimed Johnson owed.
Other bills paid included Aspen Valley Hospital ($7,345), the Of Grape & Grain liquor store ($377), Isberian Rug Co. ($1,228), Planted Earth ($764) and the Aspen law firm of Garfield & Hecht ($2,787).
Johnson’s grocery bill of $5,740 to Clark’s Market, which sued him in 2004, was also paid.
The grocery tab saga was the stuff of gossip for supermarket tabloids. The Woody Creek Tavern, near Johnson’s estate, at one point had a tip jar asking for contributions to bail him out.
Johnson, 56, also starred in the “Nash Bridges” TV series. He splits his time between Los Angeles and the Aspen area.