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Latest > Trump ordered to refund $5,770,000.00
Feb 2nd, 2017
Trump ordered to refund $5,770,000.00
To ex-members of Trump National GC Jupiter
Words: Florida Dayton
A federal judge in Florida has ordered Donald Trump's (Trump) National Golf Club Jupiter to pay $5.77 million to former members who claimed it wrongfully refused to refund their deposits when Trump took over in 2012.
*Note: In an effort not to send too many female hearts fluttering, we have decided not to use any pictures of the President in this article.
Trump National GC, Jupiter, Florida. Like my name...
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra said the club had no right to keep the deposits after locking out members who had declared their plans to resign prior to Trump's purchase in November 2012. Pre the Trump take over, the club had permitted members who wanted to resign to keep playing golf until their replacements were found.
But with Trump you're either in or you're out. So he changed the rules, stating in a letter that "as the owner of the club" he did not want such members to use the club, and telling them in no uncertain terms "you're out."
Marra stated that this deprived the plaintiffs of their "continuing right" to use the club until new members joined.
Say what you like about Trumper but he does make exceedingly good cakes, I mean golf courses
"By categorically denying class members all rights to club access because they remained on the resignation waiting list as of December 31, 2012, defendant revoked or canceled their memberships," and should have refunded their deposits, he said.
Brad Edwards, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview that "our clients are thrilled that they are getting exactly what they deserve. I think President Trump is going to respect this judgment."
That's a good one, Brad.
In a footnote, Marra noted that Trump was a "private citizen" at all times relevant to the lawsuit, and that he would refer to Trump as such in the decision.
"In doing so, the court means no disrespect to him or to the esteemed position he now holds," wrote Marra, an appointee of former President George W. Bush.
Trump National Golf Club Jupiter will be required to repay $4.849 million plus $925,010 of interest to the 65 former members for breach of contract.
No golfers were harmed in the making of this article. (What the hell are you on about?! – Ed)
