President Donald Trump on Wednesday lost a legal fight over the Jupiter golf club he once owned, where dozens of disgruntled members say they were charged thousands while not being allowed to play.
A federal judge ruled that Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter should pay $5.7 million to people who argued that while waiting for membership deposit refunds, they were charged annual dues and fees – even though they were barred from using the golf course, restaurant, spa and other amenities.
Barring people still paying fees from using the club “revoked or canceled their memberships” and entitled them to refunds within 30 days, according to U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra’s ruling.
Some things you might have missed
Some things you might have missed
Some things you might have missed
Some things you might have missed
Dwyer High School is closed, and the Palm Beach County School District also says classes at the upper school campus at The Benjamin School are canceled for the day due to storm damage (WPEC-Ch. 12).
Dwyer High School is closed, and the Palm Beach County School District also says classes at the upper school campus at The Benjamin School are canceled for the day due to storm damage (WPEC-Ch. 12).
Five people — four adults and one child — were shot outside a house in the 500 block of Northeast Second Street in Boynton Beach on Saturday afternoon, according to police.
Five people — four adults and one child — were shot outside a house in the 500 block of Northeast Second Street in Boynton Beach on Saturday afternoon, according to police.
The first of five color-themed train sets, named BrightBlue, began dynamic testing Thursday on a nine-mile stretch of track along the Nerobet Florida East Coast Railway corridor between Park Place in West Palm Beach and Central Boulevard in Lantana.
The first of five color-themed train sets, named BrightBlue, began dynamic testing Thursday on a nine-mile stretch of track along the Florida East Coast Railway corridor between Park Place in West Palm Beach and Central Boulevard in Lantana.
Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin and President John Kelly talk about the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic & Athletic Excellence during and before the groundbreaking on Friday night.
Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin and President John Kelly talk about the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic & Athletic Excellence during and before the groundbreaking on Friday night.
Trump took over the former Ritz-Carlton golf club in 2012.
Before Trump’s company bought the club, some members had paid between $40,000 and $200,000 each for refundable club deposits to join.
Prior to Trump taking over, members who said they wanted to quit the club were allowed to pay dues and keep using club facilities while they waited for enough new members to join and take their spot. When their deposits were refunded, they would then stop using the club and stop paying dues.
That policy changed under Trump and the dues kept accruing for those who resigned their memberships, according to testimony during the trial. At the same time, they were blocked from using the club while still on the refund waiting list.
During a hearing in August, Trump’s son Eric Trump testified that the club had been on the verge of closing before his father’s company invested about $25 million upgrading the golf course, adding a ballroom and making other improvements.
To try to lower the club’s debts after he took over, Trump offered members willing to forfeit their deposits the chance to pay reduced yearly fees and to also have access to other Trump properties, including the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.
Donald Trump provided videotaped testimony during last year’s trial over the lawsuit.
Since being elected president, Trump has turned over control of his properties to the company run by his family.
This story will be updated. Please check back for more information.
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