Rabbi Freundel Class Action Lawsuit

Class Action for Victims of Rabbi Bernard Freundel Voyeurism & Invasion of Privacy

On October 14, 2014, Rabbi Bernard Freundel was taken into custody and charged with various counts of voyeurism. According to authorities, the charges stemmed from Freundel secretly recording women as they disrobed and used the mikvah – a ritual Jewish bath – at his Georgetown synagogue Kesher Israel.

In the months after Freundel’s arrest, authorities found evidence to suggest that hundreds of women may have been recorded by Freundel without their consent. Freundel later pled guilty to multiple counts of voyeurism in criminal court, was convicted, and was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison.

Register for more information about the Freundel class action. Call (202) 659-8600 to speak with a lawyer.

Do you have a case?

If you or someone you love have been a congregant of Kesher Israel, a student at Towson University in Maryland where Freundel taught religious studies, or any other individual who may have used Kesher Israel’s mikvah, you may have been secretly recorded without your knowledge or consent. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has represented women who were victimized by Freundel.

CSCS has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of women who had their privacy and most personal religious moments invaded by Freundel. We are available to provide more information about your rights and whether you may be eligible for the class action during a free and confidential consultation.

Freundel Case Timeline

Barry Freundel was a prominent religious leader, Rabbi at the Georgetown synagogue of Kesher Israel, and a professor of religious studies at Towson University in Maryland.

Below is a brief timeline of what transpired during Freundel’s case:

• August 16, 2016 – CSCS and Sanford Heisler, LLP file an amended complaint in the pending class action lawsuit. The complaint names the Beth Din of America as an additional defendant in the lawsuit.
• June 14, 2016 – CSCS teams with appointed interim class counsel Sanford Heisler, LLP in the pending class action lawsuit against Rabbi Freundel and the religious institutions involved.
• July 31, 2015 – A judge upholds Freundel’s 6 ½ year prison sentence. Freundel will continue to serve his sentence in a federal prison.
• February 19, 2015 – Freundel pleads guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism in DC Superior Court.
• December 18, 2014 – CSCS files a class action lawsuit on behalf of a woman and others victimized by Freundel.
• November 2014 – Authorities state that at least 150 women were recorded during Freundel’s time at Kesher Israel, but acknowledged that number could be much higher. These victims may include congregants of Kesher Israel, women who were converting to Judaism under Freundel’s teachings, students from Towson University, and possibly others.
• October 14, 2014 – Freundel is arrested and charged with voyeurism after it was discovered that he concealed a hidden camera inside a clock radio to record women in the nude as they used the mikvah. Additional hidden cameras were also discovered at Freundel’s Towson University office, including cameras concealed in a computer charger and tissue box.

Although Freundel has been criminally convicted and sentenced, victims will be required to pursue justice and compensation through civil court. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. is currently representing several women who were victimized by Freundel, and we are prepared to fight on behalf of all victims in their fight for justice.

Freundel Case Updates

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has closely monitored this case from the day of Freundel’s arrest and has appeared on multiple news outlets discussing the case.

Below you will find links to major events during the case, as well as new updates on the status of the class action lawsuit involving Freundel:

• DC Court of Appeals Upholds Freundel’s 6.5-Year Jail Sentence
• Amended Complaint Filed in Class Action Against DC Rabbi Voyeur, Religious Institutions
• CSCS Teams With Interim Class Counsel in DC Rabbi Voyeurism Case
• DC Rabbi Bernard Freundel Pleads Guilty to Secretly Recording Women
• Another Congregant Retains CSCS in Rabbi Voyeurism Case
• CSCS Files Class Action Lawsuit in Rabbi Voyeurism Case
• Freundel Fired from Kesher Israel, Partner Sherman Comments
• CSCS Partners Appear on News to Comment on Freundel Case
• Officials still searching for possible victims, civil cases against Freundel beginning to take shape. Partners Ira Sherman and Joseph Cammarata discuss on Fox 5.
• Possible Plea Deal for Freundel – Partners Ira Sherman and Joseph Cammarata comment on the case on WUSA9.
• Police Find Micro Cameras, List of Names in Rabbi’s University Office
• Police Concerned Rabbi May Have Spied on Towson Students
• Georgetown Rabbi Arrested, Charged for Voyeurism

You can also find more information about the case by visiting the government website for victims.

Find More Information About Your Case

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our attorneys have experience protecting the rights of many clients who have had their privacy rights violated, including victims who have been secretly recorded without their consent or knowledge

Our firm believes that all individuals have the right to protect their private moments and emotional security, and that they are entitled to compensation when these rights are violated. If you believe you or a loved one may be a victim of Freundel and have questions about your situation and the Freundel class action lawsuit, our lawyers are available to help during a free and confidential consultation.

Contact us today for more information about your case.