Former Victoria’s Secret model Karolina Kurkova and her husband have filed a lawsuit against an exclusive members-only club on a private island near Miami.

Kurkova and husband Archie Drury allege Fisher Island Club’s board of directors targeted them in a bid to deprive them of their property interest and prevent Drury from doing business on the island, according to a complaint filed on February 20 in Miami-Dade County Court reviewed by Newsweek.

The lawsuit, first reported by Business Insider, alleges there was an “orchestrated effort” by the club’s board and its officers to “target, damage, punish, and ultimately expel” them in violation of the club’s governing documents and Florida law.

The Fisher Island Club said in a statement to Newsweek that it denies the allegations in the lawsuit as “baseless.”

Why It Matters

The couple own six residential units on Fisher Island, which can only be reached by boat or helicopter. It is one of the most expensive zip codes in the U.S, where homes are currently listed for sale for as much as $36.5 million.

The Fisher Island Club plays a central role in the social life of residents. Almost every resident is a member of the club, which boasts restaurants, private beaches, a golf course and two marinas.

Kurkova and Drury, a former real estate broker and film producer who worked on 2023’s Sound of Freedom, lived on the island with their three children until 2023. They allege the board’s actions harmed them personally and professionally and caused them millions of dollars in damages.

What To Know

According to the lawsuit, Kurkova and Drury bought their first club membership in 2013 and a second in 2018, each for $250,000.

The memberships were integral to the couple’s business on the island because governing documents allowed them to designate one of their memberships in connection with renting one of their units and obtain guest and tenant membership when leasing other units, the lawsuit says.

They also allowed the couple to “interact both socially and professionally with others on the Island who either might be interested in renting or selling their own units or those who may be interested in purchasing other units,” the complaint said.

The lawsuit says issues began after Drury left Douglas Elliman, where he had worked as a real estate agent from January 2017, to start his own brokerage company in late 2022.

It notes that two of the club’s board members—David Chene and Mark Zeitchick—are also on the board of Douglas Ellimen, which the lawsuit alleges “poses significant conflicts of interest” because they have used their positions on the club’s board to purchase property rights on the island.

The lawsuit alleges the club “improperly and illegally” targeted Drury, initially suspending him for six months in late 2023, citing alleged inappropriate conduct.

An email to Drury from the club’s counsel cited several incidents that allegedly occurred in 2022 and 2023, including the alleged theft by Drury of a white Range Rover owned by another member. It also said that Drury had entered a marina office in October 2022, “screaming and visibly upset” about where staff members were docking a vessel owned by Tom Brady.

The lawsuit states that Drury had made “an innocent mistake” by taking the wrong vehicle and the owner did not press charges. The lawsuit also alleges that another member had made the same mistake a few weeks later with no punishment. The other allegations are described as “patently false or grossly overstated.”

The lawsuit states that on January 2024, Drury was informed of a second six-month suspension for what was described a “a flagrant violation” of his initial suspension.

According to the lawsuit, Drury had been home with his two-year-old daughter on Christmas Eve when he ordered food from one of the club’s restaurants for her. He was advised that delivery would be at least an hour, so was “forced to retrieve the food for his daughter who needed to eat,” the lawsuit states.

Drury “merely opened the door, stepping one foot into he restaurant where he was handed the food, and left,” the lawsuit states. It adds that Kurkova was not on the island at the time, so Drury had no choice but to retrieve the food himself.

Then in November 2024, the couple received a letter stating that they had “attempted to defraud the Club and circumvent its rules” by trying to designate a membership to a tenant, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit argues that doing so is permitted under the club’s membership plan and bylaws.

The club informed Kurkova and Drury that they had been expelled following an investigation.

What People Are Saying

Kurkova’s spokesperson Melanie Bonvicino told Newsweek: “Florida’s private clubs and HOAs wield unchecked power, leaving property owners exposed to unfair governance, financial exploitation, and rule by self-interested boards.

“My client’s experience on Fisher Island highlights the urgent need for state lawmakers and the [Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation] to step in, enforce compliance, and protect property rights. Without immediate reform, these organizations will continue to operate as unregulated fiefdoms—putting homeowners, businesses, and Florida’s real estate market at risk.”

Jennifer Altman, an attorney for Drury and Kurkova, told Newsweek: “This lawsuit is about truth, transparency, and the rights of every Fisher Island Club member. For too long, as alleged in the Complaint, the Board has abused its power, violating Florida law and its own governing documents while gaslighting members who invest millions in memberships and annual dues. Fear of retaliation—through suspension or expulsion—has silenced many.

“The Complaint details gross conflicts of interest, with directors using their positions to benefit themselves and Douglas Elliman. While the Club may try to downplay or dismiss these claims, the documents confirm otherwise. Plaintiffs look forward to accountability in court.”

The Fisher Island Club said in a statement to Newsweek: “Fisher Island Club denies the allegations in the lawsuit as baseless and is firm in the belief that the complaint is nothing more than disgruntled former members. The Fisher Island Club looks forward to defending each of its challenged actions in detail in court filings as appropriate.

“The record will show that plaintiffs received multiple notices and opportunities to be heard by the appropriate Club committee and the Board and subsequently expelled the plaintiffs from the Club based on their alleged ‘attempt to defraud the Club and circumvent its rules (and deprive the Club of fees).'”

What’s Next

A hearing in the case has not yet been set.