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Since moving into the White House, President Donald Trump has stepped away from running his business empire. But in Florida yesterday, a federal judge handed a legal defeat to the organization that bears his name. The judge ruled that Trump's Jupiter Golf Club in Palm Beach County must refund members nearly $6 million.
NPR's Greg Allen reports.
GREG ALLEN, BYLINE: This is a case that began in 2012, when Donald Trump bought a struggling golf club from Marriott Vacations Worldwide. He paid just $5 million, a bargain price. But as part of the deal, he had to assume some $50 million in debt, money owed to members who put down refundable deposits and now wanted out of the club.
Trump told those who wanted out they would have to continue to pay annual dues but couldn't use the club. Plus, they wouldn't receive their refunds until new members were found to replace them, a process that might take years. Disgruntled members said Trump was unfairly changing their membership contracts, and they filed a class-action lawsuit. Their lawyer, Brad Edwards, says Trump essentially revoked their memberships while keeping their dues and deposits.
BRAD EDWARDS: The most important characteristic of a membership is access to the club. Well, there's no doubt he took away access to the club and, ergo, he took away the membership.
ALLEN: In a ruling yesterday, U.S. District Judge Keith Marra agreed with the plaintiffs. He ordered the Jupiter Club to refund 65 members their deposits plus interest for a total of nearly $6 million. Although Trump wasn't personally named in the suit, his videotaped deposition was played in court. His son Eric testified at the trial.
During the four years of the case, at Trump's urging, more than half of those who wanted out of the club changed their minds and took their names off the resignation list. That meant Trump could hold onto tens of millions of dollars in deposits, helping turn around the club's finances. Edwards says, although Trump lost in court, his hardball business tactics were effective.
EDWARDS: Clearly, his interpretation of the contract and what he could do legally were wrong and flawed, as we've just proven. But from a business perspective, it worked out well for him.
ALLEN: In his decision, Judge Marra doesn't refer to Trump as president. In a footnote, the judge says, at all times relevant to this lawsuit, Donald J. Trump was a private citizen. As a result, the court will refer to him as such in this decision. In a statement, the Trump Organization said it disagreed with the judge's ruling, and the president's company says it will appeal.
Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.
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