JULY 13, 2025 – Plaintiffs filed an action alleging religious discrimination and a hostile living environment against their Orange County condo’s Homeowners association (HOA) based on their Hasidic Jewish beliefs and religious practices. Plaintiffs alleged the HOA implemented changes to its governing documents to prevent Hasidic Jews from moving into the neighborhood. These included implementing rental bans, prohibition of erecting Sokkots and Eruvs for the Jewish Holidays, commercial restrictions on Sundays that made it difficult for the Hasidic Jews to purchase homes, and erected a security gate at its entrance to prevent Hasidic Jews from moving into the neighborhood.
We convinced the Federal district court that the HOA articulated non-discriminatory reasons for its policies and the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate those reasons were pretext for religious discrimination, and alsothat the HOA rectified any discriminatory effects. The Court also noted that the HOA applied its rules to all residents; plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a connection between the changes in the governing documents and their religion; and the HOA promptly rectified any discriminatory effect of its polices.
The case was just appealed.