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Seeks $500,000 Damages Baltimore Rabbi Files Suit in Newark Federal Court; Says Beaten by Policemen

June 30, 1972
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Rabbi Norbert Liner, 39, chairman of the Rabbinical Alumni of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, filed suit today in federal court in Newark, seeking $500,000 in damages for alleged violation of his civil rights by six Jersey City policemen.

Rabbi Liner said in his complaint, filed against the six policemen and the city of Jersey City, that he was allegedly arrested while trying to fix his car on a Jersey City street. He charged also that he was taken to a station house where he was searched and where anti-Semitic remarks were allegedly shouted at him. He charged also that his ritual items were taken from him and that this made it impossible to carry out his daily religious exercises while he was in jail. He also charged that he was handcuffed and incarcerated without being told of any charges against him.

The complaint also charged that one of the police officers took him from his cell, “grabbed the plaintiff and dragged him to a dark comer of the Jail where he continued cursing him and viciously struck him on the neck, body, legs and arms.” He contended further that “false charges” of obstructing traffic and failure to give “good account of himself” were later dismissed in municipal court.

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