From Staff Reports

CANTON — Despite facing a lawsuit over the stalled sale of the Canton paper mill following the Sept. 27 record flooding from Tropical Storm Helene, Eric Spirtas, the prospective buyer, reportedly remains optimistic that the sale will go through — and he claims the delay was due in part to Pactiv Evergreen’s refusal to provide proof of insurance.

“If they had insurance policies, you would think they would be waving them from the mountaintops,” Spirtas told The (Waynesville) Mountaineer newspaper, noting in an Oct. 23 story that he has had difficulty communicating with Pactiv. 

“All they wanted to say was ‘to just close, and we’d sort out the rest afterward,’” Spirtas was quoted as saying by The Mountaineer. “That’s just not how it works.”

The newspaper added, “Pactiv Evergreen sued Spirtas for pumping the brakes on the sale after the flood, accusing him of backing away from the purchase agreement. But Spirtas says he is, in fact, still committed to buying the mill.

“The lawsuit could mean a deal is now years away if the matter lingers in court, Spirtas warned, adding he still hopes a ‘business deal’ — as opposed to a lawsuit — can resolve differences.”

Spirtas also was quoted by The Mountaineer as saying the following:

 â€œThis deal is important to the town, important to my company and, I believe, it’s important to Pactiv. There is a business deal that needs to happen, and I want it to happen. I haven’t backed off this deal and have not changed my mind on what I can do for the community and what I want to do for the property.”