Post by Logan on Apr 16, 2016 6:45:32 GMT -6
HARTFORD — The city of Hartford Friday filed a sweeping lawsuit against the developers of the failed Dillon Stadium project, accusing them of a fraudulent scheme to "steal city funds" and pocket the money.
The suit also alleges that the developer's insurance agent created a bogus certificate of coverage, indicating the project — and the city — were insured when, the suit claims, no policy was ever issued.
The 47-page suit identifies more than $700,000 the city claims it lost, and seeks triple damages from the defendants, including Mitch Anderson and James Duckett, who were leading the development of the soccer field. The suit also names Anderson's company, Premier Sports Management Group, which was awarded the contract to redevelop Dillon Stadium; Black Diamond Consulting Group, a company run by Duckett; and Bruen Deldin DiDio, the insurance agency that issued the insurance certificate. Two employees of the agency are also named as defendants.
The Courant reported in October that Premier Sports Management Group, also known as PSMG, sought $1 million in reimbursement from the city for work purportedly done by Big Span Structures, a Florida company that manufactures stadium roofs. Three different city development officials signed off on the invoices, and the city paid Premier $700,000 before discovering that Big Span had not done the work for which Premier had billed.
Read more: www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-hartford-dillon-stadium-lawsuit-0416-20160415-story.html
The suit also alleges that the developer's insurance agent created a bogus certificate of coverage, indicating the project — and the city — were insured when, the suit claims, no policy was ever issued.
The 47-page suit identifies more than $700,000 the city claims it lost, and seeks triple damages from the defendants, including Mitch Anderson and James Duckett, who were leading the development of the soccer field. The suit also names Anderson's company, Premier Sports Management Group, which was awarded the contract to redevelop Dillon Stadium; Black Diamond Consulting Group, a company run by Duckett; and Bruen Deldin DiDio, the insurance agency that issued the insurance certificate. Two employees of the agency are also named as defendants.
The Courant reported in October that Premier Sports Management Group, also known as PSMG, sought $1 million in reimbursement from the city for work purportedly done by Big Span Structures, a Florida company that manufactures stadium roofs. Three different city development officials signed off on the invoices, and the city paid Premier $700,000 before discovering that Big Span had not done the work for which Premier had billed.
Read more: www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-hartford-dillon-stadium-lawsuit-0416-20160415-story.html