WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) – Donald Trump became a few million dollars richer on Tuesday when he won a lawsuit against a construction company that he accused of overcharging him for work at a golf course.

“If you get caught with your hand in Mr. Trump’s cookie jar you’re going to get slapped and slapped hard,” said Trump’s attorney, Y. David Scharf.

Trump had sued Columbus Construction Corp. of Mount Vernon, claiming it had billed him for $1.5 million more than he owed for excavation work during the construction of Trump National Golf Club and homes in Briarcliff Manor.

The Donald testified in Westchester County Court last spring, saying, “They submitted bills, and we paid them. Then we checked the engineering reports and found out that we had paid them far more than we owed them.”

He claimed damages from Columbus leaving the job site, failing to complete the work and causing losses in golf course revenues and residential sales.

In a decision released Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Rudolph awarded $2.1 million in damages plus 9 percent interest over four years and still-to-be-determined legal fees. Scharf said the total would come to about $4 million.

Scharf said that when he told Trump about the decision, “Mr. Trump was delighted, and he felt vindicated.”

The construction company’s attorney, Stanley Zinner, called the verdict disappointing and said an appeal is possible. He said it was “no consolation” that the judge found no malicious intent.

—

On the Net:

Trump National: http://www.trumpnational.com/