2nd Settlement Reached in Anti-Semitic Attack

The San Carlos woman whose home was vandalized in the same “skinhead” attack that targeted a local synagogue in 1988 has reached an out-of-court settlement with the second of six defendants in the case, her attorney said Thursday.

Neither Adele Goldberg nor her lawyer, Jeffrey S. Schwartz, would reveal the terms of the settlement. But court records show that, earlier this year, Goldberg received $35,000 from the first of six defendants, whom she sued for $4 million in November, 1989.

Schwartz said that, unless the four remaining defendants and their parents settle out of court, the case will go to trial in May, 1991.

“We won’t rest until justice has been done,” Schwartz said. “But everyone involved seems to prefer a settlement resolution rather than making this a jury matter. No one wants to take it to trial, but if we need to, we will.”

The attack on Goldberg’s home occurred in the early morning of Nov. 13, 1988. She said she woke up to find, spray-painted on the door of her garage, a large, crude, anti-Semitic graffito framed by swastikas. Goldberg said she believed the youths were drawn to her home because of a front-yard planter in the shape of the Star of David.

Goldberg lives near the Tifereth Israel Synagogue, the walls of which were covered with such slogans as “Adolph ( sic ) Hitler Lives,” “America Befor ( sic ) Israel” and “Love Skinheads.” Officials estimated the damage to the synagogue at more than $5,000.

Goldberg, who lived alone at the time but has since married, says the attack damaged her identity to the point where she “lost the desire” to worship at synagogues or observe Jewish traditions. She said it also left her perpetually frightened.

“The fear has been the worst,” she said afterward. “And I’ve kind of condemned myself for being Jewish. I’ve had to work hard . . . not to blame myself for being Jewish.”

Her attorney labeled as “insufficient and inadequate” the punishment meted out by the Juvenile Court, which asked five San Diego minors to perform “a few hours of community service” and pay restitution ranging from $20 to $25 per defendant.

The 16-year-old ringleader from the San Fernando Valley community of Chatsworth was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay $135 in restitution.

The defendants and their attorneys were unavailable for comment Thursday.

Goldberg said she is “glad things are progressing” but added that she finds the incident “hard to let go of emotionally” with cases still pending.

“It keeps being brought back to me,” she said. “No matter how hard I try, it’s something I always have to deal with. I’m not happy (about the prospect of a trial), I’m not looking forward to it. . . . It would be very hard, very emotionally trying, but, I will do it if I have to.”

In court documents filed earlier this year, Goldberg listed medical expenses related to the incident at more than $7,000. She’s seen a therapist at least once a week since November, 1988, she said, and is taking a prescribed medication of anti-depressants.

Schwartz said Goldberg has used money obtained from defendants to pay for medical expenses, a home security system and security lighting and to replace her garage door.

Schwartz said he feels the case is symbolic of a national trend, in which the victims of so-called hate crimes--deterred by what he called the ineffectual response of law enforcement--have “received justice in the arena of the civil courts.”

“I hope I’ve given other victims an incentive,” Goldberg said. “I hope it shows that people should stand up for their rights and say, ‘I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this.’ I hope I’m setting an example.”