Tom Hanks loses $2 million battle over Sun Valley home
Superstar Tom Hanks may not be accustomed to being told "no," but that's exactly what a Blaine County judge told him and his actress wife, Rita Wilson. The Hollywood couple's been fighting with a local contractor over construction of their Ketchum home and guest cottages in 2002. Hanks claims the work was defective, but four years ago a judge ruled against him and ordered that the builder be paid $2 million.

Tom Hanks loses $2 million battle over Sun Valley home
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
By ALYSON OUTEN / KTVB

AP: Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson claimed the builder did shoddy work on his Ketchum home. A judge disagreed.

BOISE -- Superstar Tom Hanks may not be accustomed to being told "no," but that's exactly what a Blaine County judge told him and his actress wife, Rita Wilson.

The Hollywood couple's been fighting with a local contractor over construction of their Ketchum home and guest cottages in 2002.

Hanks claims the work was defective, but four years ago a judge ruled against him and ordered that the builder be paid $2 million.

The dispute continued in the courts since that time, including as recently as last November.

But last week a local judge said "no more," and barred any further litigation from Hanks and Wilson.

The law firm which represents the couple and their Sun Valley Trust says the case is headed for an appeal.

"Idaho law in this technical area is not clearly established and everyone, including the judge, knew that this issue was headed for the Idaho Court of Appeals regardless of how Thursday's hearing turned out," a statement released by the firm said. "We think that the right result here is for my clients' case to be heard and decided on its merits, and we trust that the Court of Appeals will ultimately agree."