Coram-West Glacier Fire Department sues for property

The Flathead County Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Coram-West Glacier Fire Department against Tod Fox, Laura Fox and any others who might have a claim on a parcel of land in Coram.

According to a complaint filed on Jan. 13, a lot on Fehlberg Lane was conveyed to the fire department in the early 1970s. The fire department also owned several lots on Coram School Lane legally described as Lots J, L and N of Fehlberg’s Tracts.

Around 2003, Tod Fox wrote a check to the fire department for $12,000 to purchase the Coram School Lane lots and put a notation at the bottom of the check referring to Lots J, L and N.

According to a complaint, Fox spoke with John Gillespie, the fire department’s secretary-treasurer, in June 2005 asking him to sign a warranty deed conveying Lots J, L and N to Fox.

But according to the complaint, the warranty deed recorded at the Flathead County Clerk and Recorder’s Office included not just Lots J, L and N but also the lot on Fehlberg Lane.

Fire department officials say they never intended to sell the lot on Fehlberg Lane to Fox, nor did they give Fox or anyone else permission to convey the lot to Fox. The fire department requests that the lot on Fehlberg be returned to the fire department by quiet title.

Fox was a pastor for 35 years and was the pastor at Canyon Community Church in Coram.