Rabbi Freundel Voyeurism Class Action

Case Description

Case Type: Criminal/Sexual Violence Litigation

On September 7, 2018, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia granted preliminary approval of the class action settlement arising from Rabbi Bernard Freundel’s secret videotaping of females without their consent at the National Capital Mikvah facility in Washington, DC.

To receive payment from the Settlement, Class Members must complete a brief Confidential Registration Form. Registered Class Members that the U.S. Attorney’s Office identified as videotaped by Freundel will receive a Base Payment of $25,000 each. Other Registered Class Members will receive a Base Payment of $2,500 each if they disrobed in the National Capital Mikvah one or more times between July 1, 2005, and October 14, 2014, and suffered actual emotional distress after learning of Freundel’s videotaping (regardless of whether they were videotaped). In addition, each Registered Class Member shall be eligible to receive an additional, Supplemental Payment if she completes a Claim Form describing the harms she suffered.

As directed by the Court, on Friday, September 14, 2018, a third-party Settlement Administrator is issuing Notice to Class Members describing the Settlement and providing them with the opportunity to participate. In order to receive money from the Settlement, Class Members must complete the Confidential Registration Form by November 13, 2018.

Fill out the Confidential Registration Form to register as a class member and receive payment.

Sanford Heisler Sharp was appointed as Class Counsel to represent Class Members. David Sanford, founder of Sanford Heisler Sharp, said: “The Court today preliminarily approved a $14.25 million class action settlement, which helps bring closure to a most sensitive and difficult situation for hundreds of women.”

Alexandra Harwin, partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp and co-chair of the firm’s National Title VII Practice, said: “The Court’s preliminary approval of the class action settlement represents a critical step forward for women victimized by Rabbi Freundel. The next steps are designed to minimize the burden on those women. Class members only need to complete minimal paperwork to receive a monetary award from this settlement.”

To obtain a Confidential Registration Form to register as a class member and receive payment, please click here: Confidential Registration Form.

To read a brief description of the class action settlement (including class members’ legal options and important deadlines), please click here: Short-Form Notice of Class Action Settlement.

To read a longer description of the class action settlement (including class members’ legal options and important deadlines), please click here: Long-Form Notice of Class Action Settlement.

To read the full class action settlement, please click here: Settlement Agreement and Release.

To ask questions about the Settlement (free of charge), please email mikvahsettlement@sanfordheisler.com or call (646) 681-7373.