I know this is going to shock you, but Donald Trump is creating a stir. This time, it's in the golf world. This time, it's in Jupiter, Florida.
According to the New York Times, Trump bought the Trump Jupiter resort in 2012 from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. At the time, the resort had several members on the resignation list. These were folks who wanted to get their money back but had to wait until new members signed up to do so.
This is a completely above-board practice and, according to the author, commonplace until recent years. Anyway, Trump told all those on this list (around 150 people) that they were out if they remained on that list and did not refund their $200,000 (as was in their original contract). He banned them from coming back to the resort.
In this dispute, members say Trump, who in 2012 bought what is now called Trump National Jupiter from Marriott Vacations Worldwide, basically stiffed them out of their refundable deposits, many of which were in the range of $200,000. Some of the members had to swallow the loss (in return for some paltry benefits) because they had bought time shares or homes that were part of the resort development.
Trump contends that he is still offering refunds to those on the resignation list and that some have settled sooner to get out of the deal. What he fails to contend is that it certainly appears he's both banning folks from the course and not paying them their resignation money.
That doesn't appear to be an option under the original deal. Trump was sued by some of the members and one is slated for trial this summer (wouldn't that be something in the middle of a presidential race?!).
