New York – Orthodox Man Files Suit, Charges He Was Fired For Asking For Kosher Food

New York – A Brooklyn real estate agent has sued his former employer, saying that he was fired for requesting kosher food at a 2013 event, charges his ex-boss vehemently denies.

In the nine page lawsuit filed on April 22nd in federal court, resident Robert Seidenberg charges that John Reinhardt, CEO of Fillmore Real Estate, fired Seidenberg for suggesting that kosher food should have been offered at a Fillmore-sponsored event run by the Brooklyn Board of Realtors in May, 2013.

Fillmore allegedly began shouting, “You have some nerve to ask me a question about kosher food. We don’t need people like you at Fillmore,” in front of a group of witnesses including Seidenberg’s wife, Arleen Weisbrod, also a real estate agent. Seidenberg who had worked previously at Fillmore, had been employed with the agency for two years at the time of his termination, which he said came immediately after the event. While Seidenberg said he attempted to apologize for his remarks, he was notified approximately two weeks later that he had been dismissed because of his wife’s employment at a competing real estate firm, a violation of company rules that Seidenberg claimed he was never made aware of.

In a VIN News interview, Reinhardt said Seidenberg approached him as he was preparing an introduction for the morning’s guest speaker, prominent motivational lecturer Steve Harney. According to Reinhardt, Harney, a sought after national speaker, waived his fee for the event in an event to recognize the efforts of area agents in the months following Hurricane Sandy.

“Two minutes before I have to introduce Steve Harney to 350 people Bob comes up to me and asks to talk to me,” Reinhardt told VIN News. “I’m busy trying to memorize my speech and I ask him if it could wait until after my introduction and he says ‘No, it can’t wait we have to talk about it now. Don’t you think you should pay attention to the religious people?” I blew up at him. I was insulted he could say that to me because it is so far from the truth and there was kosher food the next table over.”

Then-president of the Brooklyn Board of Realtors Rosalie Daniel confirmed that kosher food had been made available at the May 2013 event for all those who had requested it in advance.

“Kosher food has always been arranged and has always been made available,” said Daniel.

Reinhardt said that Weisbrod’s employment with Keller Williams had been a significant issue for him, but he let the matter slide as a favor to a sick neighbor who was related to Seidenberg, but that after the neighbor’s death he no longer had any reason to keep Seidenberg on.

“His wife joined Keller Williams in Brooklyn and it isn’t good business for a husband and wife to be working for competing companies,” explained Reinhardt. “She is working for the competition, trying to beat us in our own market and we don’t allow that.”

Seidenberg’s lawsuit noted that Reinhardt was aware of another Fillmore employee whose wife also works in the real estate business, for a different agency, but Reinhardt said that the two situations are vastly different.

“She works in Long Island, in Commack,” said Reinhardt. “She isn’t competing with us.”

Seidenberg’s lawsuit stated that he has lost commissions and referrals as a result of his firing from Fillmore and continues to suffer from “severe and lasting embarrassment, humiliation and anguish, and other incidental and consequential damages and expenses,” and claims that Reinhardt’s actions were malicious, intentionally injurious and violated his civil rights, entitling him to punitive damages.

According to Reinhardt, this is Seidenberg’s second attempt to sue him for damages because of his firing from Fillmore, with the first lawsuit dismissed by the court. Seidenberg’s lawyer, Michael Ferch said he had no knowledge of any previous legal action and called the reason for Seidenberg’s dismissal “a thinly veiled excuse of anti-Semitism.”

“My client and I stand by the allegations in the complaint and we are confident that the judicial system will continue to defend religious rights and anti-discrimination laws in the workplace,” said Ferch.

Seidenberg, a 75 year old Sheepshead Bay resident, is suing both Fillmore Real Estate and John Reinhardt for racial discrimination in termination of employment in violation of the civil rights act of 1866, the New York State human rights law and the New York City administrative code. Seidenberg hopes to collect in excess of $3 million, plus all legal fees, if the court finds in his favor.