NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiffs, Strike Merchants Bowling Club Scholarship Foundation Inc. (Strike Merchants) and Minnie Banks-Belton (Banks-Belton), Strike Merchant's bowling tournament administrator and chairperson of its board of trustees, appeal from a December 31, 2013 order denying their summary judgment motion and granting summary judgment in favor of defendant United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

On an appeal from the grant of summary judgment, our review is de novo, employing the same Brill1 standard applied by the trial judge. Henry v. N.J. Dep't of Human Servs., 204 N.J. 320, 329-30 (2010). Having reviewed the record in light of that standard, we affirm for the reasons cogently stated by Judge Frederick S. Kessler in his written opinion dated December 31, 2013.

Because Judge Kessler thoroughly and correctly addressed the facts and the law, little additional discussion is warranted here. Briefly, this appeal arises from a dispute between a local bowling organization and its tournament administrator on one side, and the national organization that certifies bowling competitions and sets rules and standards for its members in the conduct of, and participation in, bowling tournaments. Banks-Belton, but not Strike Merchants, was a member of the USBC and as a member, she was bound to comply with its rules.

Strike Merchants held a USBC-sanctioned bowling tournament, of which Banks-Belton was the tournament administrator.2 Two of the tournament events were won by one bowler. Strike Merchants later disqualified that bowler after concluding that he had misstated his rated bowling average by one point. The bowler appealed to the USBC, which ultimately ruled that he had done nothing wrong and ordered Strike Merchants to pay him the prize money, which amounted to about $4500.

It is undisputed that, instead of supporting the USBC ruling, Banks-Belton told Strike Merchants: "As a matter of integrity, you can't pay him." After various unsuccessful USBC appeal proceedings, and notice from USBC of the consequences of continued non-compliance, Strike Merchants still refused to comply with the USBC ruling. As a result, the USBC notified Banks-Belton that she was "indefinitely suspended from membership" in USBC, and she could no longer "hold office" as a USBC-sanctioned team captain or coach, or bowl in any USBC-sanctioned leagues or tournaments. However, USBC also notified Banks-Belton that, after September 15, 2013, she could apply for reinstatement of membership upon proof of compliance with USBC's decision. Thereafter, Banks-Belton and Strike Merchants sued USBC and the bowler.

Judge Kessler dismissed the suit on summary judgment. Among other things, the judge concluded that, while plaintiffs had an interest in the matter sufficient to warrant judicial involvement in the dispute, defendant had not unjustifiably interfered with plaintiffs' interest. See Rutledge v. Gulian, 93 N.J. 113, 118 (1983). Judge Kessler found that USBC's actions were not fundamentally unfair and did not violate public policy. See id. at 122-23.

On this appeal, plaintiffs present the following points of argument for our consideration:

Those contentions are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). As previously noted, we affirm for the reasons stated by Judge Kessler.

Affirmed.