📍 Sullivan County, NY | JewishDigitalTimes.com
⚖️ Court Recusal in Hasidic Property Battle
When a Supreme Court judge recuses herself from a civil property case, people take notice. And that’s exactly what happened in a lawsuit now exposing deep entanglements between real estate operators, rabbinic influence, and judicial oversight in the Catskills.
The case involves Dmitri (Chaim Ben Dovid) Bediner, a Ukrainian-born stroke and brain surgery survivor, who co-owned an 8-unit bungalow colony in South Fallsburg, NY. Now, he’s in court defending his rights and sanity against a shell company called Dacha Luxe LLC, which is attempting to claim full ownership of the property—allegedly through fraud, coercion, and predatory lending.
🏘️ The Background
In 2023, Sullivan County court ordered the sale of the property at 446 Whitaker Road, which Bediner had spent 25 years maintaining. After several bids, both sides agreed to accept a $970,000 offer from Rabbi Goldberger. But Bediner, who had legal right of first refusal, was persuaded by Rabbi Joshua Glassman to exercise it.
Glassman promised help, and arranged financing for Bediner—who was still recovering from a stroke and COVID-19. The loan? A $560,000 “hard money” mortgage through Preferred Real Estate Management at 15% interest-only terms.
$7,000/month — $84,000/year in interest payments
On a property that generated no more than $30,000/year.
This deal was knowingly structured for default and takeover. After Bediner was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a 17.5-hour surgery, Dacha Luxe LLC stepped in, claiming ownership rights based on that very mortgage and an incomplete contract allegedly signed under duress.
👩⚖️ Judicial Recusal & Procedural Red Flags
The case was originally overseen by Judge Meagan Galligan. But when documents surfaced showing potential familiarity or social ties to individuals involved, she quietly recused herself. No formal explanation has been filed publicly, but the move raised immediate questions about influence and impartiality.
The case is now under Judge E. Danielle Jose-Decker, and several procedural and legal concerns remain:
- Missing Schedule B in the sales contract, making it legally defective.
- Alleged forged signatures and unverified financial claims.
- No proof submitted of the supposed $275,000 “investment” by Dacha Luxe.
- Deleted filings and document manipulation by plaintiff’s legal team.
🧠 Medical Exploitation Alleged
At the core of Bediner’s defense is the claim that he was targeted while medically incapacitated. By the time he signed the deal, he had already suffered a stroke, survived COVID-19, and was just weeks away from brain surgery. In filings submitted in March 2025, Bediner—representing himself pro se—alleges that Glassman and others intentionally took advantage of his condition to transfer control of the property through deception.
📢 Why This Case Matters
Beyond the immediate threat to Bediner’s home and dignity, the case reflects deeper systemic concerns: religious authority figures using legal systems to dominate property ownership in tight-knit communities—often by leveraging vulnerability and spiritual trust.
🆘 Support the Fight for Justice
Community members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Dmitri cover ongoing legal and medical costs. The goal: $40,000.
👉 Click here to donate and share the fundraiser
