The Trump Organization has agreed to pay £225,000 in legal costs to the Scottish government after losing a prolonged court battle over a wind farm near its Aberdeenshire golf course. The settlement was reached before an independent auditor was due to adjudicate the dispute over the fees.
The legal row stems from Donald Trump's 2012 lawsuit against Scottish ministers over their decision to approve an 11-turbine experimental wind farm approximately two miles from the southern boundary of his coastal golf course north of Aberdeen. Trump described the project as 'monstrous' and claimed it influenced his decision to freeze further investment in the resort, originally planned to cost at least £750 million.
Trump lost the case at every stage, and in February three civil court judges in Edinburgh ruled that he was liable for the Scottish government's legal costs. The Scottish government confirmed on Tuesday that a settlement had been reached, removing the need for the auditor of the court of session to determine the expenses. A spokesman stated that the Trump Organization would pay £225,000 to Scottish ministers.
The Trump Organization had previously denied refusing to pay, with Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of the Trump golf resort, stating in October that the matter was in the hands of the auditors and the Scottish ministers. The company has since admitted the resort was never developed as originally planned due to the 2008 global recession and the 2014 oil price collapse, and it has yet to turn a profit, with Trump and his firm loaning the business £43 million.
