Due Diligence

In 2007, we were informed about ongoing discussions between the attorneys of Cincinnati Insurance and Platinum regarding a breached agreement from 2005, surrounding the legal and operational implications, especially given the subsequent letter that suggested confusion and redirected accountability towards entities involved in the Platinum Drive project.

The questions regarding potential liability or blame directed at the City of Bridgeport, the State of West Virginia, or other parties indicate a possible strategy of deflecting responsibility. The timeline provided, highlighting when Due Diligence should have been exercised by the partners, further substantiates our position and demonstrate negligence on their part.

The First Steps Of Due Diligence

Contacting adjoining landowners to gather topographical history before accessing County and State records is a strategic approach to garner valuable insights into the land's past uses, environmental conditions, and any potential issues. Engaging with neighbors may uncover anecdotal evidence, historical land modifications, or previous disputes that might not be documented in official records. This preliminary research regarding land use, potential development, or regulatory compliance. Ultimately, it lays a solid groundwork for more formal inquiries into County and State records by contextualizing the information you may find.

1994 - Due Diligence

The timeline you've provided highlights significant concerns regarding the formation and operations of Platinum Properties in 1994, particularly in relation to Risk Management practices and the investment in surrounding properties. The acquisition of a crucial parcel in the City of Bridgeport without our knowledge raises questions about transparency and communication among partners. The quote from the 1996 document serves to underline the mismanagement regarding the various parcels, suggesting that a thorough Due Diligence process—including a title search to uncover the mining history—was necessary but evidently overlooked or underdone.

1996 - Due Diligence

Thrasher Engineering’s presentation of their 1996 Engineering Plans for 109 & 113 Platinum Drive to the City of Bridgeport reflects a crucial step in the development process; however, it raises the issue of whether appropriate Due Diligence was carried out. Had Thrasher Engineering conducted a thorough search for the Mining Map within the Charleston, WV Mining Archives, they would've uncovered critical information related to the historical mining activities in the area. Failure to perform such an essential investigation would indeed suggest negligence, as it neglects to address potential risks associated with the properties being developed.

2003 - Due Diligence

The 2003 Purchase Agreement between Platinum Properties and the City of Bridgeport Planning Authority, executed for a significant sum of $3,000,000 taxpayer dollars, raises critical concerns about the Due Diligence conducted by both parties regarding the property's historical context. It was imperative for the City of Bridgeport and the State of West Virginia to investigate the Mining Map within the State's Mining Archives in Charleston, WV, given the potential implications of past mining activities. Additionally, Platinum Properties' legal counsel, having expertise in mining area research, should have been diligent in uncovering any pertinent information related to the property's mining history. Neglecting to perform these essential searches would constitute a serious oversight, jeopardizing both the financial investment and the safety of future developments on the site.

2005 - Due Diligence

Buchart Horn Engineering's involvement in the project necessitated thorough Due Diligence, particularly in regards to searching the State Mining Archives for the relevant mining map. Given that their engineering plans included critical infrastructure components such as a Massive Support Slope, the Supporting Toe / Corpening Drive Storm Drainage Retention Pond, and Platinum Drive, the absence of this crucial mining-related information could have significant implications for the project's safety and viability. Failure to conduct this search would signify negligence by Buchart Horn, as they would not have adequately considered potential risks associated with historical mining activity that could impact the design and stability of these essential features.

2007 The State of West Virginia's Mining Archives

I contacted the West Virginia's Mining Archives and accessed the state's Online Mining Database highlighting the essence of Due Diligence in property transactions. Efforts, which resulted in a timely discovery of the Cortright Mine map, which is crucial for understanding the historical mining activities in the area, especially given its prominent listings where written prominently on Said Map: Cortright Mine Cortright Coll Co - Bridgeport Hill Eastpointe Mall - Harrison County Clarksburg: A View Of Said Map. The Mining Map was from the 1920's whereas Bridgeport Hill Eastpointe Mall - Harrison County did not exist then.
I then Informed the State Archives about the map's location ensuring proper indexing where the publics ability to search out such maps was then halted.

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