Judge Urges Plaintiffs To File New Religious Discrimination Suit

In TAL Properties of Pomona, LLC v. Village of Pomona, (SD NY, July 22, 2019), a New York federal district court refused to vacate its earlier judgment and reopen a religious discrimination case brought by a Jewish building developer against a New York village. Plaintiffs argued that a subsequent New York State Division of Human Rights report revealed new evidence of discrimination against Orthodox Jewish residents of the village.  The court, while ruling against plaintiffs, said:

Defendants should take little comfort in this outcome. The allegations presented on this motion, if even half true, are disturbing. I am obliged to stay within the confines of Rule 60(b), which in my judgment does not allow for this lawsuit to be reopened, but should Plaintiffs commence a new lawsuit, they may well be able to state a claim. And I do not see how Defendants will “suffer immense prejudice,” ... if they have to defend themselves on the merits. They may well be able to do so; I have no opinion as to the what the outcome of such a case would be, nor could I at this stage. But should Plaintiffs find it in their interest to pursue a case, airing the allegations and getting to the truth would hardly be a bad thing.