Karolina Kurkova and Her Husband Engage in Dispute with Fisher Island Club
Last Thursday, supermodel Karolina Kurkova and her husband, Archie Drury, a real estate broker, took legal action against the Fisher Island Club. They are claiming that the club’s board of directors not only threatened them but also expelled them without justification. In response, the Fisher Island Club has dismissed the lawsuit, describing it as a complaint from unhappy former members.
Kurkova and Drury are suing the prestigious Fisher Island Club, located on a private island near Miami, known for its wealthy residents from various industries. Their lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County court, alleges that the club’s board threatened them and worked to take away their property rights on the island. They believe this was done to stop Drury from conducting his business there, while the club continued its illegal control over the island without fear of being exposed. The couple says their membership was wrongfully suspended twice before they were finally expelled in January, and they claim these actions damaged their reputation and cost them millions of dollars.
A representative for Kurkova stated that in Florida, private clubs and homeowners associations often operate without enough oversight. This can leave property owners exposed to unfair practices and unchecked authority. She emphasized that it’s time for lawmakers to intervene and introduce meaningful reforms to tackle these issues.
Kurkova and Drury began their journey with the Fisher Island Club in 2013 when they purchased their first membership for $250,000. They later bought a second membership in 2018, which was meant for one of their employees. Kurkova, who gained fame as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, owns six residential units on the island. Drury worked as a real estate agent on Fisher Island until December 2022. The lawsuit claims the conflict with the club board started soon after Drury left his position at his previous company, Douglas Elliman, to start his own brokerage.
There are allegations of conflicts of interest because two board members of the Fisher Island Club are also part of the board of Douglas Elliman. The couple’s lawsuit asserts that these board members, David Chene and Mark Zeitchick, were interested in using their positions for personal gain, rather than focusing on what was best for club members.
The club has firmly denied all allegations in the lawsuit, asserting that they are baseless and simply stem from disgruntled former members. They are prepared to defend their actions in court as needed.
Fisher Island is a 216-acre man-made island just south of Miami Beach, accessible only by boat or helicopter. Its residents have included high-profile individuals, such as Oprah Winfrey and athlete Caroline Wozniacki. The Fisher Island Club is a crucial part of life for the residents and features amenities like restaurants, private beaches, and a golf course.
In December 2023, the club suspended Drury’s membership for six months, citing alleged inappropriate behavior, including accusations of threatening another member and acting inappropriately towards a marina employee. The couple insists that the allegations are exaggerated and that some were simply misunderstandings, including an incident involving a Range Rover where Drury mistakenly took someone else’s car but returned it once he realized the mix-up.
The situation escalated when Drury was reportedly suspended again after trying to pick up food from the club’s restaurant for his young daughter. Despite the club stating he violated his suspension, Drury maintains he was just trying to provide for his family.
In their lawsuit, Kurkova and Drury argue that the board’s actions against them constitute a calculation to harm and punish them, violating club rules and Florida law. They are seeking a jury trial, believing that Drury has been a valued member of the community, having served on the Fisher Island Community Association board and contributed to establishing a medical clinic on the island.
Overall, the couple’s lawsuit raises multiple claims about the board’s abuse of power, improper governance, and possible conflicts of interest, which they argue should not go unchallenged.
