The Manchin brothers are squabbling over $1.7 million that John Manchin II said he loaned U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and Warehouse Carpet Outlook co-partner Roch “Rock” Manchin 20 years ago to try to rescue a failing Manchin Carpet Center in Farmington.

They had trouble finding a judge who isn’t connected to the Manchins.

Judge Michael Aloi bowed out because he’s related to the Manchins.

Judge David Janes stepped aside because he's a patient of Dr. John Manchin II.

Judge Thomas W. Steptoe, Jr. caught the hot potato.

Joe and Rock said brother John II’s  lawsuit is "nothing but the latest effort of a bitter sibling . . . at latching on to his more successful brothers' financial and business interests."

It’s not like John II is in poverty.

There’s the John Manchin Sr. Assisted Living Facilty at 3193 Husky Highway, Farmington, which specializes in Alzheimer’s care, hospice services, long term care, respite care and physical therapy but has fewer than a dozen residents.

And John Manchin Sr. Healthcare, 401 Guffey Street, Fairmont.

And the John Manchin II and John Manchin III family practice at 100 Main Street in Farmington.

It’s a wonder the Manchins – Joe, John II, John III and much-younger brother Rock – can keep track of all their assets.

And you have to wonder what Mary Gouzd Manchin, their mother who died in May, would think of her boys parading a family squabble over money into the public spotlight. 

Mary was the daughter of an immigrant from Czechoslovakia who tried coal mining before becoming a Farmington grocer. Mary met John Manchin Sr. at Farmington High. They wed in 1942 and were married 60 years when John Sr. passed away in 2002.

Lost amid the blinding glare of Manchin glory is the brothers’ other sister, Paula Manchin Llanza.

Dr. John Manchin II filed the lawsuit in July.

Osteopathic doctor John II said he forked over $1.7 million to satisfy loan guarantees and cover Manchin Carpet Center debts and considered himself a partner.

John II said he also provided seed money for another family business, Manchin Brothers.

Rock Manchin is partnered with cousin Mike Roscoe and Kirk Sestito, with the Warehouse Carpet Outlook business, a re-incarnation of the Manchin Carpet Center with the help of Bob Thompson, married to the Manchin brothers’ sister, Janet.

The other Manchin dynasty daughter is Paula Manchin Llaneza.

Senator Manchin’s grandfather got the ball rolling toward this mess when he started a grocery store in Farmington in the 1920s with his twin sisters. The empire grew from there.