Boise, ID – A trial is underway in 4th District Court in Boise to determine the priority of creditors who will receive funds from the now defunct Tamarack ski and snowboard resort in Idaho when they’re distributed by a federal bankruptcy court.nJudge Patrick Owen is hearing arguments from a first group of creditors that includes general contractor Banner Sabey, Tri-State Electric, YMC, Interior Systems and others. While proceedings are expected to last a week, there are three other groups of creditors who will go before Judge Owen in separate trials through October and November.

Tamarack Resort’s ski lifts have been silent since March 2009 after the ski area’s principals defaulted on a $250 million construction loan by lenders led by Credit Suisse. There have since been various initiatives by several groups to reopen the ski area in various capacities, including one bid from the Tamarack Municipal Association, a homeowners’ group, to operate several lifts four days a week this winter. The organization is currently in discussions with both the bankruptcy court and the State of Idaho regarding its proposal.

Salt Lake City-based Pelorus Group also entered an undisclosed bid to purchase Tamarack last month. The group already purchased Tamarack’s conference center in July.