LAKEWOOD - Residents of an age-restricted condominium complex have filed a lawsuit alleging that rules regulating mixed-gender swimming times is discriminatory, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The 376-home community A Country Place in Lakewood recently changed the rules for its outdoor swimming pool to cater to the Orthodox Jewish beliefs of a majority of its residents.

Under the rules, men and women are only allowed in the pool together from 1 to 3 p.m. weekdays and all day Saturday because Jewish law prohibits mixed-gender swimming. Orthodox Jewish residents make up a majority of the community's residents.

Two non-Orthodox homeowners in the community - Marie Curto and Steve Lusardi - were each issued a $50 fine for violating policy this summer after they refused to get out of the pool when co-ed swimming hours ended.

When Curto and Lusardi protested, they were sent letters from the board condemning their arguments.

"It is you that is unfair to the vast majority of our residents. ... The vast majority of people would abolish any mixed swimming, because that is the will of the majority," the Asbury Park Press quoted from a letter sent by the condo association's board to Curto.

As a result, Curto and Lusardi, as well as his wife, Diana, have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court alleging the pool policy violates the anti-discrimination provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the newspaper reported.

The Lusardis claim they have been "harassed, intimidated and have received threats of violence within their community due to their complaints regarding the pool," the newspaper reported.

A hearing is set for Nov. 4 in Toms River, while the Lusardis reportedly listed their home for sale on Aug. 15.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.