Donald Trump plaintiffs denied new trial

Rendering of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Ft. Lauderdale and Donald Trump
Rendering of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Ft. Lauderdale and Donald Trump

Donald Trump avoided a new trial in one of the Broward Circuit Court lawsuits over the failed Trump International Hotel & Tower project.

Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld denied the motion for a new trial filed by two plaintiffs who claimed they only bought units in the Fort Lauderdale condo-hotel because they thought Trump was the developer. Streitfeld ruled in Trump’s favor last month. Trump is now going after them for attorney fees.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued the judge favored Trump during the celebrity developer’s testimony. Streitfeld let Trump borrow his reading glasses at one point and jokingly uttered his “You’re fired” catchphrase when Trump stepped down from the witness stand.

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“The use of humor did not reflect a bias for or against any party,” Streitfeld wrote in his ruling. “No objection was made at any time by either side to the conduct of the trial. Waiting for an adverse jury verdict is received is a tactic frowned upon, as it should be.”

A lawsuit filed by dozens of other Trump condo-hotel buyers is expected to go to trial this summer. [Sun-Sentinel]Eric Kalis