Barry Arfa filed the lawsuit Sept. 24 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. He says he joined the club in 2014 and paid yearly fees of $48,000. Starting in 2017, according to the complaint, Arfa warned the club that food service equipment was being installed without a permit, that vermin and rodents had infested food service areas, and that PVC water lines under a new Court #3 went in without a permit. He also says the club skipped soil testing, ignored water contamination, was being fined $1,000 a day and had a $2 million project halted because it was built illegally.
Nothing was fixed, the suit alleges. After Arfa alerted other members, the club suspended his membership in 2022, 2023 and 2024 — each time after he had paid his dues — in violation of its own governing documents, according to the filing. The complaint calls the move vindictive and spiteful, meant to punish Arfa for demanding the club obey the law and stop exposing members to health hazards.
Arfa is suing for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, seeking more than $50,000, including the value of dues he paid, plus emotional and reputational damages. He says the club confirmed receiving a pre-suit letter but never responded to it. Pinecrest attorney Daniel H. Hunt represents Arfa, who is demanding a jury trial…