Condo Owners File Discrimination Suit Over Single-Sex Pool Rules: Report

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Condominium owners at A Country Place in Lakewood have filed suit against the homeowners association, claiming rules limiting mixed-gender swimming in the association's pool are discriminatory, according to a report.

The Asbury Park Press reported the lawsuit was filed by Marie Curto, Steve Lusardi, and Steve's wife, Diane Lusardi, and alleges the pool policy, which limits mixed-gender swimming to two hours per day during the week and full access on Saturdays, violates the anti-discrimination provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

The policy at A Country Place was put in place because the majority of the homeowners in the 376-unit complex are Orthodox Jewish residents, the homeowners association has said. Jewish law prohibits men and women from bathing or swimming together.

Curto and Steve Lusardi each were fined $50 by the association for violating the rules, according to the report.

Jose D. Roman of Powell & Roman, Old Bridge, filed the lawsuit on be half of Curto and the Lusardis; the Press report said Roman called the pool policy "the institution of religious law by a secular governing body (the Board) of a secular entity (the Association) in a secular community (A Country Place)."

A hearing is set for Nov. 4 in Toms River.

Read more here.

Swimming pool photo, by Morgan, via Flickr, underCreative Commons license