Former President Donald Trump’s company managed a huge legal victory in a battle with New York City over contracts for venues and a golf course.
The case began after the city attempted to cancel a contract with the Trump Organization’s Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx, as well as other attractions, leading to a lawsuit by the company last year, according to CNBC.
“The city ended the Trump Organization’s contract to operate the Trump Ferry Point 18-hole golf course in February 2021, weeks after a mob of Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and disrupted the confirmation of President Joe Biden’s election win,” the outlet reported, adding:
At the same time, the city canceled the company’s contracts to operate two ice rinks and a carousel in Central Park.
The city claimed in a letter to the Trump Organization, whose owner is a notoriously avid golfer, that the Capitol riot had made the Trump brand “synonymous with an insurrection against the federal government,” and thus ruined Ferry Point’s ability to draw “professional tournament-quality events” to the course.
The company then sued the city in June after an appeal of the decision was denied, claiming the city breached the contract, which authorized the Trump Organization to run the course for 20 years.
NYC lawyers focused on a section of the contract that required the Trump Organization to keep the golf course in a manner capable of “attracting professional tournament quality events,” according to the Friday ruling.
But in turn, lawyers for the former president argued that in fact, the contract never obligated the Trump Organization to either attract or host tournament-quality events at Ferry Point.
In her ruling Friday, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Debra James noted that she agreed with the Trump Organization “that there is no ambiguity in the obligation in the Agreement that petitioner is required to ‘operat[e] a first-class, tournament quality daily fee golf course.’”
Eric Trump, who heads up the organization’s day-to-day operations, was elated over the ruling.
“The judge didn’t buy their nonsense and this is a well-reasoned and appropriate decision and we look forward to running the best golf course for years to come,” he said.
He added on Twitter:
Breaking: Total Victory at ! is a disgrace to New York and his challenge to our contract was nothing more than political theatre (that costs NY tremendous money and time). Our team is proud to continue to operate the greatest Golf Course in New York!
— Eric Trump
“We would like to thank the court for its well-reasoned decision based on law and facts,” said a Trump Organization spokesman following the ruling.
“As we have said since the beginning, the City’s efforts to terminate our long-term license agreement to operate Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point Park were nothing more than a political vendetta,” the spokesperson added.
“Former Mayor Bill de Blasio used his position to weaponize the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York City Law Department all in an effort to advance his own partisan agenda, score political points and interfere with free enterprise,” the spokesperson continued. “This is not just a win for The Trump Organization — this is a win for the people of the City of New York and for the hundreds of our hard-working employees at Ferry Point.”
“We are thrilled that we will continue to operate and manage what has been widely recognized as one of the most magnificent public golf experiences anywhere in the country.”