For nearly five years, Chavi Satz has lived life as an agunah. In 2018, she separated from her husband, Bergenfield resident Ari Satz, and was issued a civil divorce through the American legal system, but was not given a get. In turn, Chavi Satz sought assistance from the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), a nonprofit organization that works within the parameters of Jewish and civil law to advocate for the timely and unconditional issuance of a get. In response to the efforts made by ORA to help his ex-wife obtain her get, Ari Satz sued the executive director of ORA along with others involved in publicizing the issue, including The Jewish Link, for violations of privacy and defamation.
Among the efforts made by ORA to help Chavi Satz, a rally was organized in front of her ex-husband’s parents’ home. ORA also circulated a flyer, which was published online and in The Jewish Link, stating the facts of the case along with the psak made against Ari Satz by the Vaad Hadin of New City for being recalcitrant. The flyer also included a picture of Ari Satz, which he later claimed was obtained without permission—the basis for his lawsuit against ORA and The Jewish Link.
The Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC) also issued a letter to the community stating that they agreed with the psak of the Vaad Hadin of New City, and that until Ari Satz complies with the order to give a get, “all members of our community should distance themselves from Mr. Satz.”
In October 2023, Ari Satz sued ORA, its executive director Keshet Starr and The Jewish Link, as well as a Bergenfield rabbi who had been involved with advocating for the get. Ari Satz claimed that the photograph that was printed in ORA’s flyer violated his privacy, and that those who shared the flyer had defamed him and purposely made him appear “disheveled.” The lawsuit sought $30 million in damages.
International law firm Gibson Dunn agreed to represent The Jewish Link and other defendants pro bono, led by litigation partner Akiva Shapiro along with associates Dillon Westfall, Brian Yeh, Apratim Vidyarthi, Graham Ellis and Beshoy Shokralla. Shapiro told The Jewish Link that he is experienced in issues that arise from agunah cases, specifically as they move through the American legal system—and how recalcitrant husbands tend to abuse the system to avoid giving a get.
“It is deeply troubling when husbands refuse to unconditionally grant their wives a get,” Shapiro said. “It is doubly wrong when they misuse and weaponize the court system in an attempt to intimidate agunahs, communal organizations, rabbis and newspapers for exercising their First Amendment-protected advocacy and press rights.”
Shortly after being retained, the legal team filed a motion for extension of time to respond to the complaint. In turn, Ari Satz opposed the motion and cross-moved for the entry of default judgment. Gibson Dunn made clear its intention to seek a ruling that the lawsuit was a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) subject to dismissal under New Jersey’s recently-enacted Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), because the lawsuit targeted First Amendment protected speech and press activities. After the court granted the motion for extension of time and denied Ari Satz’s cross-motion, he filed a notice of voluntary dismissal dismissing all claims against all defendants.
In an email to Gibson Dunn, Ari Satz stated that he was aware that the case was “going nowhere,” but nevertheless demanded a payment of $1 million, with an “extra $100,000 added to the price” every month this continues.
“I want every get-refuser considering such a lawsuit to know that there is an army of pro bono litigators ready to ensure that these efforts will have no impact, and will ultimately fail, as this lawsuit did,” Shapiro said. “I’m grateful for the heroic efforts of ORA, as well as the people in our community for doing everything in their power to ensure that gets are granted unconditionally.”
