Calls to the law firm representing the 29 Chinese litigants were not returned. A lawyer representing Muroff and Muroff’s Idaho companies declined to comment. A call to US Bank’s lawyer was not returned.

New Highlands partnership forms

New Jersey Mining Company, a Kellogg, Idaho-based mine and milling company, bought half of BHJV in January, making it Muroff's new partner. The founder of New Jersey Mining created a new tailings system that is touted as environmentally friendly, and the company won an environmental award from Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in 2014. (See accompanying story.)

Grant Brackebusch, vice president of New Jersey Mining, said he doesn’t have concerns over being partnered with Muroff, despite the allegations made through the lawsuits. Brackebusch said he and the other principals in his company, president John Swallow and chief executive officer Del Steiner, were aware of the lawsuits before entering into the business partnership.

“We had some idea. We thought the mine is a good asset. The mine is what attracted us,” Brackebusch said.

Steiner said no EB-5 money was used to finance BHJV.