A wealthy former oil trader and her husband, who also acquired a fortune in his transportation and logistics career, have been involved in litigation concerning their Florida residence and a neighbor’s home. The neighbor happens to be the former president of Goldman Sachs investment bank. The real estate disputes were centered on an access area that was technically part of the neighbor’s property but led to other couple’s home.
The lawsuit the woman filed accused a Palm Beach municipality of enforcing ordinances that unjustly favored the neighbor. The claim accused the town of cohorting with the neighbor to make decisions that would benefit the neighbor. It is not the first time the two oceanfront mansion owners have been entangled in legal disputes.
The homes in question are near Mar-A-Largo Club, a sprawling resort property owned by President Donald Trump. For more than five years, the two families have gone to bat over numerous property issues, such as removal of a beach access wall, as well as arguments over parking and the installation of a tennis court. A U.S. District Court judge recently ruled that the plaintiff did not provide the proper basis for filing a discrimination case against the town but granted permission for the claim to be refiled.
The plaintiffs apparently decided not to refile the claim but to settle the real estate disputes with the Florida town officials out of court. Property disputes involving access roads, cul-de-sacs and parking areas are often complex, which is why most people choose to seek legal support from experienced real estate law attorneys before heading to court. Such an attorney is well-versed on state laws regarding such issues and can help a client determine a best course of action in a particular set of circumstances.