Based on a USA TODAY NETWORK investigation.
Quotes from writer Steve Reilly, published in USA TODAY, on June 9, 2016, are in red ink:
In the 1980s Philadelphia cabinet-builder Edward Friel Jr. landed a $400,000 contract to build the bases for slot machines, registration desks, bars and other cabinets at Harrah's at Trump Plaza.
The family cabinetry business finished its work in 1984 and submitted a$83,600 final bill to the general contractor.
The money never came.
The Edward J. Friel Co. filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 5, 1989.
"“The worst part wasn’t dealing with the Trumps,” Paul Friel said. After standing up to Trump, Friel said the family struggled to get other casino work in Atlantic City. “There’s tons of these stories out there,” he said."
Trump has been involved in more than 3,500 lawsuits over the past three decades.
Many involve ordinary people who say Trump or his companies refused to pay them.
At least 60 lawsuits, and hundreds of liens, judgments, and other government filings were reviewed by USA TODAY.
The 'ordinary people' include a dishwasher in Florida, a glass company in New Jersey, a plumber, and 48 waiters.
Several law firms that represented Trump in lawsuits also claim they were not paid.
Since the 1980s over 200 mechanic’s liens were filed by contractors and employees against Trump, claiming they were owed money for their work.
"On just one project, Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, records released by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in 1990 show that at least 253 subcontractors weren’t paid in full or on time, including workers who installed walls, chandeliers and plumbing."
Steve Reilly, in USA TODAY, on June 9, 2016
If a company or worker isn’t paid fully, the Trumps say The Trump Organization was unhappy with the work.
“Let’s say that they do a job that’s not good, or a job that they didn’t finish, or a job that was way late. I’ll deduct from their contract, absolutely,” Trump said. “That’s what the country should be doing.”
"In courtroom testimony, the manager of the general contractor for the Doral renovation admitted that a decision was made not to pay The Paint Spot ($30,000) because Trump “already paid enough.” "
“We have hundreds of millions of dollars of construction projects underway. And we have, for the most part, exceptional contractors on them who get paid, and get paid quickly. But it would be irresponsible if my father paid contractors who did lousy work. And he doesn’t do that.” Ivanka Trump,
Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization
"Ivanka Trump added that any number of disputes over late or deficient payments that were found over the past few decades pale in comparison to the thousands of checks Trump companies cut each month."
"Real estate broker Rana Williams, who said she had sold hundreds of millions of dollars in Manhattan property for Trump International Realty over more than two decades with the company, sued in 2013 alleging Trump shorted her $735,212 in commissions on deals she brokered from 2009 to 2012. "
"Trump and Williams settled their case in 2015, and the terms of the deal are confidential, as is the case in dozens of other settlements between plaintiffs and Trump companies."
"Another broker, Jennifer McGovern, filed a similar lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump Mortgage LLC in 2007, citing a six-figure commission on real-estate sales that she said went unpaid. "
"A judge issued a judgment ordering Trump Mortgage to pay McGovern $298,274."
