THOUSAND OAKS : Tennis Player Wins Suit Against Club

A disgruntled tennis player has won a small-claims lawsuit he filed against the North Ranch Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

Bruce Linder was awarded $4,250, the price he paid in 1990 to join the club. Another member who sued won a similar refund in January.

Linder’s case was argued last Tuesday. He said that the exclusive private country club improperly opened its courts to members of the public, and that the club broke its promise to expand the tennis clubhouse.

Linder said he plans to start playing tennis somewhere else.

“I want nothing more than to leave the club in peace,” he said.

But he said he feared the club would appeal the ruling.

“Let’s face it, they have a huge amount of money behind them,” he said. “I just hope that this is the end of it.”

David L. Shane, president of the country club, had vowed to appeal a decision against the club to Ventura County Superior Court. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

Linda Waitsman, a member of the tennis club, called the decision “a travesty of justice.”

“I think the club is wonderful and the tennis is better than ever,” she said.