Lawsuit Against Fisher Island Club: A High-Profile Dispute

Introduction to the Dispute

Supermodel Karolina Kurkova and her husband, Archie Drury, have filed a lawsuit against the prestigious Fisher Island Club in Miami Beach, Florida, after being expelled from the exclusive members-only club. The couple alleges that they were wrongfully ejected following a series of incidents, including accusations of theft, trespassing, and fraud. The lawsuit claims that the club’s actions were part of a “carefully orchestrated attack” against Drury, which they believe was motivated by business rivalries and personal vendettas.

The Fisher Island Club, located in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S., is known for its elite membership and high-profile residents, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts. Membership costs $250,000 per person, with annual dues of $40,000. The club has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and “scandalmongering,” and claims that the couple was expelled due to repeated violations of club rules.

The Alleged Car Theft Incident

The lawsuit centers around an incident where Archie Drury was accused of stealing a car belonging to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and her husband, former NBA player David Lee. According to court documents, Drury had mistakenly taken the couple’s white Range Rover from the club’s parking garage, thinking it was his own identical vehicle. The lawsuit states that this was an “innocent mistake” and not a theft, as Drury realized his error shortly after leaving the garage.

Despite this explanation, Drury was initially suspended from the club for six months. Wozniacki and Lee did not press charges, acknowledging that the incident was inadvertent. However, the club took further action, ultimately expelling both Drury and Kurkova from the club.

The Playground Incident and Its Aftermath

Adding fuel to the fire was an earlier incident involving the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. According to sources, the child bit Wozniacki and Lee’s toddler during an unsupervised playground encounter. Kurkova’s daughter reportedly acted out of panic while trying to create personal space on a slide. The incident was ruled a one-off, and Kurkova sought therapy for her child to address the behavior.

However, the aftermath of this incident led to Kurkova and Drury’s child being suspended from the private Fisher Island Day School. This chain of events appears to have strained the couple’s relationship with the club and its members, setting the stage for further conflicts.

Escalating Tensions and Expulsion

The situation escalated further when Drury was accused of trespassing on club grounds during his suspension. He allegedly entered the club’s restaurant, La Trattoria, to pick up food for his young daughter. This incident led to an additional six-month suspension.

The club also accused Drury of attempting to “defraud” the club by passing off a membership to a tenant, a practice that the lawsuit claims had been allowed in the past. Additionally, Drury was accused of barging into the club’s office over a dispute about where his friend, football star Tom Brady, could park his boat. The club alleged that Drury physically threatened a fellow member and gave them the middle finger during a property dispute.

Real Estate Rivalries and Retaliation

Kurkova’s spokesperson, Melanie A. Bonvicino, has alleged that the couple was targeted due to Drury’s decision to leave his former employer, Douglas Elliman, to start his own real estate firm in 2023. Bonvicino claims that members of the Fisher Island Club’s board, who also work for Douglas Elliman, orchestrated a campaign to damage the couple’s reputation and business interests.

The lawsuit also alleges that one of the couple’s employees had his lease on the island canceled and was harassed by a board member. The employee was reportedly threatened and even searched for a wire in an attempt to intimidate him into speaking out against his employers. The couple believes that these actions were part of a coordinated effort to undermine their success in the competitive real estate market.

Seeking Justice and Moving Forward

Kurkova and Drury have denied all allegations of misconduct and are seeking a jury trial to clear their names. They argue that the club’s actions were unfair and that they were denied proper due process. The couple has put their Fisher Island home on the market for $6.9 million, signaling their decision to move on from the conflict.

The lawsuit highlights the complexities of life in a high-profile, exclusive community where personal and professional rivalries can escalate into full-blown disputes. While the Fisher Island Club maintains that its actions were justified, the couple remains determined to protect their reputations and business interests through legal means.

As the case moves forward, it will likely shed more light on the inner workings of Fisher Island’s elite community and the challenges of navigating its strict rules and social dynamics. For now, the dispute serves as a reminder of how quickly misunderstandings and rivalries can spiral out of control in such a high-stakes environment.