Brookhaven official David J. Moran owes Centereach Fire District $260G in pay dispute, lawsuit alleges
Centereach Fire District hired David J. Moran, seen here in August 2016, through his private law practice, and his work for the district was not related to his work for Brookhaven, court papers show. Credit: Barry Sloan
The Centereach Fire District is seeking repayment of $260,000 from Brookhaven Town's deputy director of public safety in a dispute over his role in securing funding for a $13 million firehouse construction project.
The fire district in 2021 filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County State Supreme Court accusing David J. Moran of falsely claiming he was owed the equivalent of 2% of a bond the district had borrowed to finance the project, then refused to return the money when fire commissioners questioned the payment. At the time, Moran was a lawyer for the district in addition to working as a deputy town attorney for Brookhaven.
The district is seeking the return of $260,000, plus $520,000 in punitive damages.
Moran has denied the allegations in court papers.
Centereach hired Moran in 2018 through his private law practice, and his work for the district was not related to his work for Brookhaven, court papers show.
The fire district fired Moran in 2020 because of the pay dispute, said Merrick attorney David A. Antwork, who represents the district in the lawsuit.
“The fire district has a responsibility to its taxpayers to recover these funds that were paid to Mr. Moran based upon work that was not completed,” Antwork said Friday in an interview. “The district attempted to work this out to no avail.”
Attempts to reach Moran and his attorney, John Scott Prudenti, were unsuccessful.
Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said he was "aware of the case and I have no further comment at this time.”
Moran was promoted to the town public safety post two years ago and was tapped last year to serve as interim manager of the town animal shelter. He was paid $124,754 for both positions last year, according to town records.
Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow said Moran "fully disclosed the pending litigation" when he was appointed village attorney last year, adding he had "provided invaluable legal counsel."
The village pays Moran $150 an hour through the private law firm for which he works, Sheprow said.
Court papers show the Centereach pay issue stemmed from a dispute over whether Moran, who was paid a $17,400 annual salary from the district, prematurely requested payment for his role in securing funding for firehouse renovations and construction of a new substation. Both projects were subsequently completed, Antwork said.
Fire district officials say in court papers they agreed to pay Moran 2% of the bid price of the project, but he requested and received payment immediately after the district secured a $13 million construction bond — before contract bids were requested or received.
Moran refused to return his payment when asked to do so, fire district officials said in the lawsuit.
Fire commissioners said in court papers Moran "had not rendered any services to the [fire district] in this regard and certainly not in the amount of $260,000.00."
In a response filed with the court, Moran accused the district of seeking "unjust enrichment" and said the district waited too long before filing the lawsuit.
Moran and Centereach officials were scheduled to provide depositions related to the lawsuit earlier this week.
The parties are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 21.
The Centereach Fire District is seeking repayment of $260,000 from Brookhaven Town's deputy director of public safety in a dispute over his role in securing funding for a $13 million firehouse construction project.
The fire district in 2021 filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County State Supreme Court accusing David J. Moran of falsely claiming he was owed the equivalent of 2% of a bond the district had borrowed to finance the project, then refused to return the money when fire commissioners questioned the payment. At the time, Moran was a lawyer for the district in addition to working as a deputy town attorney for Brookhaven.
The district is seeking the return of $260,000, plus $520,000 in punitive damages.
Moran has denied the allegations in court papers.
Centereach hired Moran in 2018 through his private law practice, and his work for the district was not related to his work for Brookhaven, court papers show.
The fire district fired Moran in 2020 because of the pay dispute, said Merrick attorney David A. Antwork, who represents the district in the lawsuit.
“The fire district has a responsibility to its taxpayers to recover these funds that were paid to Mr. Moran based upon work that was not completed,” Antwork said Friday in an interview. “The district attempted to work this out to no avail.”
Attempts to reach Moran and his attorney, John Scott Prudenti, were unsuccessful.
Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said he was "aware of the case and I have no further comment at this time.”
Moran was promoted to the town public safety post two years ago and was tapped last year to serve as interim manager of the town animal shelter. He was paid $124,754 for both positions last year, according to town records.
Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow said Moran "fully disclosed the pending litigation" when he was appointed village attorney last year, adding he had "provided invaluable legal counsel."
The village pays Moran $150 an hour through the private law firm for which he works, Sheprow said.
Court papers show the Centereach pay issue stemmed from a dispute over whether Moran, who was paid a $17,400 annual salary from the district, prematurely requested payment for his role in securing funding for firehouse renovations and construction of a new substation. Both projects were subsequently completed, Antwork said.
Fire district officials say in court papers they agreed to pay Moran 2% of the bid price of the project, but he requested and received payment immediately after the district secured a $13 million construction bond — before contract bids were requested or received.
Moran refused to return his payment when asked to do so, fire district officials said in the lawsuit.
Fire commissioners said in court papers Moran "had not rendered any services to the [fire district] in this regard and certainly not in the amount of $260,000.00."
In a response filed with the court, Moran accused the district of seeking "unjust enrichment" and said the district waited too long before filing the lawsuit.
Moran and Centereach officials were scheduled to provide depositions related to the lawsuit earlier this week.
The parties are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 21.
Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.
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