Kosher Food Supplier Sued a Second Time

One of the state's long-time suppliers of Kosher food has been sued for the second time in less than a week over alleged violations captured on video.

Parham Zar filed the lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Doheny Glatt Kosher Meat Market at 9213 W. Pico Blvd. and its owner, Michael Engelman, alleging fraud, breach of contract, battery and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

He wants unspecified damages.

Engelman could not be immediately reached for comment.

According to The Los Angeles Times, video recorded by a private investigator shows Doheny Glatt workers bringing in boxes of meat late at night without the required supervision of an inspector or overseer known as a mashgiach, whose job is to monitor the market.     The video later aired on a local television news station.

After viewing the video, the Rabbinical Council of California pulled Doheny's kosher certification, The Times reported. A group of rabbis also met with Engelman and -- according to the council -- he initially denied any wrongdoing but later "admitted to bringing unauthorized products to the store on two to three occasions," the newspaper reported.

In his suit, Zar says "this was not an isolated incident, but in fact it was the custom and practice of defendants to advertise their products as Glatt Kosher when in fact they were not, thus commanding higher prices."

A similar lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Joshua Fard of Beverly Hills, who also wants to add other plaintiffs with similar complaints to the case to make it a class action.

The Fard lawsuit alleges that Engelman and his store falsely advertised their products as Glatt Kosher so as to demand higher prices. The plaintiff also contends that thousands of the market's patrons have been misled and that many suffered emotional distress after finding out that the products were not authentic.

A battery occurred because Engelman intended both plaintiffs to "purchase, touch and consume the non-Glatt Kosher meat," the lawsuits state.