Article Courtesy of Boca
News
By Andrew Colton
Published October 2, 2020
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DELRAY BEACH — Sometimes you don’t have to make a federal case out of a federal
case. That’s more or less the loud message sent today by U.S. District Judge
Donald Middlebrooks who denied a joint request by the Seven Bridges Homeowners
Association, Deborah LaGrasso and Rachel Tannenholz to delay their three-way
over claims of anti-semitism, harassment and violations of federal housing law.
For those who have
tuned in late, we encourage you to read our previous
coverage. In a nutshell: Seven Bridges is a gated community
in West Delray Beach. It’s not a country club but sometimes
thinks that it is. Many of its residents are seen driving
golf carts, although there are no golf cart paths, let alone
an actual golf course. It’s unclear to where these
homeowners are driving their golf carts, or why.
Seven Bridges does have a high profile tennis program.
Homeowner Deborah LaGrasso claims that her kids were told
they couldn’t use the tennis courts by the grownup version
of “mean girls.” When LaGrasso went to investigate, she
allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with one or some
of the “mean girls.” She was later fined by the HOA and
banned from using HOA amenities for a year. Angry, she
allegedly posted mean things on Facebook which upset not
just the “mean girls” but others who don’t believe the first
amendment covers an HOA member posting bad things about an
HOA. One of those people is Rachel Tannenholz, another
homeowner, who allegedly told LaGrasso that she should move
out because she’s not Jewish. LaGrasso claims — and has
submitted to the court — documentation suggesting that
harassment continued for quite some time. When LaGrasso
complained to the HOA, LaGrasso claims that the HOA did
nothing. That’s the federal part of the suit. LaGrasso
claims Tannenholz harassed her and, knowing about it, the
Seven Bridges HOA took no action, violating federal housing
laws. |
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Delray’s Seven Bridges was heavily advertised in New
York City and on Long Island — complete with home values.
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Here’s a quick recap of who allegedly wrote what:
LaGrasso claims Tannenholz wrote: “You moved in somewhere which is 80
percent Jewish and you do not belong here… If I was hated as much as you I
would move out… Move the f—k out, it’s over for you.”
Tannenholz claims LaGrasso wrote: “Seven Bridges community stripper wants us
to move out according to her last post. OH MY those platform shoes are
horrendous…must be so hard to type and dance on the pole at the same time.”
In today’s installment, U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks denied a
three way request to delay the trial until next summer. All parties claim
there are so many witnesses that experts that they can’t possibly move
forward in early Spring. The judge, in a strongly worded document, said
“no,” suggesting that he doesn’t believe this woman vs. woman vs. HOA battle
is worthy of tying up the federal courts for an extended period of time.
Root of
bizarre dueling residential lawsuits at west of Boca community - tennis court
time |