NJ conversion therapy “experts” lose big in court to tune of $3.5 million

Map of U.S. cities and counties that have bans on sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts with minors
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The founders of a New Jersey-based conversion therapy clinic will have to pony up a $3.5 million fine for violating the terms of a settlement that barred the group from practicing its dangerous techniques.

Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) first landed in the headlines back in 2012. Four former clients of the group sued alleging psychological torture and abuse aimed at “correcting” sexual orientation. Court documents revealed that abuse included clients undressing in front of each other and physically attacking effigies of their mothers. That suit settled in 2015 with JONAH founders Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Berk eluding payment of $3.5 million in damages; the pair negotiated the fine down to $400,000 in exchange for promising they would never again engage in conversion therapy practices.

By 2018, however, several clients again sued Berk and Goldberg alleging that they violated the terms of the 2015 settlement by again practicing conversion therapy. A judge ruled in the case just two weeks later, finding that…

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