Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Woman With Tourette's Tossed From Shiva, Files Lawsuit


By

Ben Muessig

Published Mar 9, 2010

Modified Mar 9, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Ben Muessig

Published Mar 9, 2010

Modified Mar 9, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A Tourette's-afflicted woman is suing her brother for kicking her out of a shiva service in 2007, but her brother claims she had to be ejected after saying "F--k the rabbi." Karen Feld filed a $110 million federal lawsuit against her brother—Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus boss Kenneth Feld—after her sibling allegedly had security guards beat her up and kick her out of the memorial for their deceased aunt.

Karen's lawyer told the Post that after a warm welcome from her brother at the service, she became overcome with grief and stepped out of the room with her toy poodle Campari. As she walked to the bathroom, three "large, aggressive men" allegedly dragged her down the hallway and threw her out of the building, leaving her with a concussion, fractured ribs, a torn earlobe and a broken elbow. According to court papers, Kenneth claims his sister was acting irrationally and was ejected after saying: "f--k the rabbi."

Now, Kenneth wants the rabbi—identified as Joshua Burrows—to testify in court about what he witnessed while sitting shiva. His attorney is attempting to keep him out of it. This isn't the first legal squabble involving the circus boss and his sister. In 1984, Karen reportedly sued her brother for $10 million after learning she had been written out of her father's will. She reportedly settled for less than $1 million.

Tagged

karen feld

kenneth feld

rabbi

shiva

tourette's


Ben Muessig

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET


Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.

By

Carol Chen

News

Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.

By

Carol Chen


Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park

By

Ramsey Khalifeh

Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker

By

Brittany Kriegstein

NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.

By

Mike Hayes


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .