Condo Harassment Sparks AG Action: Violent Discrimination Violations

Homeowner and Condominium Association in Neptune Allegedly Failed to Take Adequate Action to End Bias-Based Harassment.Photo byMorristown Minute

New Jersey Condominium Association accused of failing to address ongoing harassment, in violation of the NJ Law Against Discrimination.

NEPTUNE, NJ - Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced today that they have issued Findings of Probable Cause in a case involving alleged harassment at The Summit condominium in Neptune, based on national origin and sex. A resident accused a neighboring condo owner’s boyfriend of ongoing discrimination, which the condo association allegedly failed to properly address.

The complainant, a Russian woman, alleged that Edward Leo, the live-in boyfriend of Donna Knepper, a neighboring condo owner, subjected her to persistent harassment and discriminatory slurs beginning in the spring of 2020. The harassment allegedly included threats, offensive language, videotaping her property, and intimidating behavior, such as wielding an axe. Leo is also accused of escalating the harassment after the complainant reported the incidents to the authorities.

“There’s no excuse for the kind of discrimination described in this case, and there’s no excuse for the people in power who allowed it to continue,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We’re putting tenants, homeowners, and homeowners’ associations on notice: if you harass someone or allow someone to be harassed because of where they come from or their sex, we will hold you accountable.”

According to DCR's findings, the condominium association and Knepper, as Leo’s landlord, are both potentially liable for failing to take prompt and effective action to end the harassment. While the association issued 16 violation letters and fines against Knepper, DCR found that the measures taken were insufficient, allowing the harassment to continue and escalate.

“No one should face the sting of discrimination or harassment anywhere, especially in or around their home. That’s why it’s so important that property owners, management companies, and homeowners associations take effective action to address resident-on-resident harassment,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “The enforcement actions we’re announcing today underscore the strength of the protections our laws provide against bias-based harassment in housing, and we will continue our work to enforce those protections across our state.”

The case will now proceed to a final adjudication, where penalties may be imposed if the court determines the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination was violated.

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