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ST. GEORGE -- Basketball great Julius Erving is embroiled in a battle over his former home in St. George. A courthouse auction has been set for next Wednesday, although the Hall of Famer's attorney may file suit to stop it.
I find [Julius Erving] to be an outstanding individual that does pay his bills.
–Shawn Farris, Erving attorney
Erving, known to basketball fans as "Dr. J," has had major financial troubles lately, reportedly losing millions on a golf course he bought into in Georgia. His attorney says the Utah battle has nothing to do with that, and started with a petty dispute.
KSL News got a peek inside the St. George home in January. It was on the market for $2.25 million, vacated by one of the greatest players ever to pick up a basketball.
Real estate agent Cindy Campbell showed us mementos of Julius Erving's glory years as No. 6, the high-flying Dr. J.
"He's a very modest individual," Campbell said. "His number six was retired, I think, on two teams."
But the home and its fancy, personalized basketball court never sold, after well over a year on the market. Now, published legal notices say it will be auctioned to the highest bidder, Wednesday at the St. George Hall of Justice.
The battle started a year ago when the homeowners association in Erving's subdivision filed a lien on his home.
The association said Erving failed to pay $2,100 in assessments and fines. Now the amount in dispute has escalated from $2,100, but neither side is saying how much.
The HOA is threatening to collect the debt by selling the home.
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Erving attorney Shawn Farris says Dr. J believes the assessments are unfair penalties for minor infractions: improper outdoor lighting, a dead tree and garbage cans misplaced by a cleaning crew.
"They assessed him a $100 fine, then a $500 fine; a $1,000 fine for this garbage can being tucked away behind his garage. We just don't think it's commensurate with any kind of violation," Farris said Thursday.
Instead of an auction, the battle might wind up in court.
"If we cannot reach an agreement, I think the alternate process would be filing a lawsuit and seeking to enjoin the sale," Farris said.
Meanwhile, Campbell told us she's no longer Dr J's real estate agent. She says he recently pulled the house off the market and turned the mortgage back to the bank.
Farris said he can't confirm that information and doesn't know Dr J's overall financial situation.
"I find him to be an outstanding individual that does pay his bills," Farris said.
KSL has been unable to get information about the status of that $1.5 million mortgage. The property is listed as delinquent on $20,000 in property taxes, but the county treasurer's office told us the taxes were paid by the mortgage company in April, several months late.
E-mail: jhollenhorst@ksl.com
