Thursday, July 01, 2010

Group Hit In 'Hebrew Race' Discrimination Case

A civil rights trial against a homeowner's association accused of discriminating against Jewish members has ended in a settlement that is believed to be the largest in Plymouth County history.

The jury awarded the Prescotts $600,000 for the violations of their civil rights and an additional $150,000 for nuisance. Together, with interest, the judgment is in excess of $1.2 million.
The jury awarded Scott J. Hyman $850,000 for the violations of his civil rights and an additional $100,000 for nuisance. Together, with interest, the judgment is in excess of $1.3 million.

In addition, within weeks of an association member's comments that "someone is going to burn him (Hyman) out," Hyman’s home in Middleboro, Mass., was torched and burned to the ground, according to Minchoff. There is an ongoing arson investigation.

------------

I am guessing Zogby never polled the Prescotts or Scott Hymen to find out if things were going well in their neighborhood and if they were happy with the HOA.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for Mr. Hyman! The intentional injustices against innocent and vulnerable populations within far too many of these groups is a tragedy, obviously, in many places in America!
This is only too familiar:
"In addition, within weeks of an association member's comments that "someone is going to burn him (Hyman) out," Hyman’s home in Middleboro, Mass., was torched and burned to the ground, according to Minchoff. There is an ongoing arson investigation.
In my opinion,
Monroe County, Pennsylvania officials, prosecutors, human relations and their media, along with some other locales should pay special attention to this, for sure, and every other act of violence, property destruction and discrimination, enacted by and/or threatened, within some of these groups!

Anonymous said...

There is no question that this racial discrimination is prevalent in HOA-burdened property. The people behind the HOA corporation - i.e., the board members and their agents, wear the mask of the HOA corporation.

However, trade groups such as Community Associations Institute have really expanded from racial discrimination to any difference at all for profit. This group specializes in creating disputes between HOA corporations and their involuntary members - individuals, folks with a minority interest although not necessarily a racial minority. It's an equal opportunity for abuse.

Homeowners living in HOA burdened property are routinely subjected to such photographing, nastygrams, etc. The only disappointment in this case is the attitude that it's okay to engage in such conduct unless it's racially motivated.

I hope that Hyman and the Prescotts did not have to spend all of their awards on attorneys. In addition, it would be unacceptable for the HOA to use "mandatory association" to require Hyman and the Prescotts to have to pay a portion of their own award by virtue of involuntary HOA membership.