A New York resident has filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by local authorities. On January 8, 2026, Joseph Dahan lodged a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the Village of Atlantic Beach and its Building Inspector, Vincent Amoroso.
The lawsuit claims that Dahan, who is Jewish, has been subjected to discriminatory enforcement of zoning and building codes due to his faith. The complaint alleges that while non-Jewish residents received favorable treatment under similar circumstances, Dahan faced undue scrutiny and delays in obtaining necessary Certificates of Occupancy for his properties. According to the filing, this conduct violates Dahan's constitutional rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments as well as New York State Human Rights Law. The case highlights incidents where village officials allegedly expressed antisemitic sentiments and treated Jewish residents unfavorably. For instance, after Chabad Lubavitch of the Beaches acquired property in the village for religious purposes, officials attempted to seize it through eminent domain—a move halted by a federal court injunction.
Dahan’s attempts to secure occupancy certificates were met with repeated obstacles from Amoroso and other village officials. Despite fulfilling all requirements and engaging licensed professionals like Myles Kosta from 3KC Inc., Dahan faced continuous demands for additional work on his properties. In one instance, Amoroso admitted inspecting Dahan's property "three times more" than any other project in the village. This pattern of behavior led Kosta to describe it as a "personal vendetta" against Dahan due to his Jewish identity.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court including declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages not less than $10 million for financial losses and emotional distress, punitive damages against Amoroso for malicious conduct, and attorneys' fees. The lawsuit aims to end what it describes as systemic discrimination against Jewish residents in Atlantic Beach.
Representing Joseph Dahan is attorney Brian K. Condon from Condon Paxos PLLC. The case is presided over by an unnamed judge under Case ID 1:26-cv-00114.
Source: 126vb00114_Dahan_v_Village_of_Atlantic_Beach_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf