Trump Golf Club Members Settle Membership Deposit Class Action

Three plaintiffs, who were members of Jupiter Golf Club LLC before it was taken over by now-President Donald Trump in 2012, have asked a Florida federal judge to preliminarily approve a proposed $5.4 million class action settlement over allegations they were denied refunds of their deposits.

The golf club now does business as Trump National Golf Club Jupiter.

“This settlement provides for a fundamentally fair, reasonable and adequate resolution that will produce a substantial cash payment for every class member,” the plaintiffs state in their motion supporting preliminary approval of the Trump Jupiter Golf Club class action settlement.

“The settlement easily satisfies the criteria for preliminary approval.”

Plaintiffs Norman Hirsch, Matthew Dwyer and Ralph Willard filed the Trump Jupiter Golf Club class action lawsuit in 2013, claiming that the agreements they signed upon joining the club state that they should have been entitled to refunds of their deposits after Trump bought the club in December 2012.

According to the Jupiter Golf Club class action lawsuit, Trump informed members with refundable deposits that they could forfeit the deposits and receive discounts on their membership dues and have reciprocity at other golf courses owned by Trump. Alternatively, they could keep their existing agreements but face an increase in their dues and have no reciprocity at other Trump golf courses.

The settlement documents note that the plaintiffs won a significant monetary judgment following a bench trial, but the judgment was appealed by the Jupiter Golf Club defendants. Oral arguments are currently set to be held before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in May. However, the parties reached a settlement, which they have submitted for preliminary approval.

Class Members of the proposed golf club membership settlement include anyone who purchased a Full Golf, Fractional Golf or Social or Spa membership to The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa – Jupiter from RBF LLC, paid a refundable membership deposit, were placed on the club resignation list prior to Dec. 4, 2012, who have not received a refund of any portion of their membership deposit and have not executed the Legacy Addendum.

According to the Trump National class action settlement documents, the settlement fund will be distributed to Class Members on a pro rata basis. It is estimated that Class Members will receive a payment of approximately 71 percent of the sum of their refundable deposits. No Claim Form will be required; checks will be mailed to each of the 65 Class Members if the settlement receives final approval.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Class Members are represented by Seth M. Lehrman and Bradley J. Edwards of Edwards Pottinger LLC.

The Trump Jupiter Golf Club Class Action Lawsuit is Norman Hirsch, et al. v. Jupiter Golf Club LLC, Case No. 9:13-cv-80456, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.