Saratoga County Supreme Court Halts Payment to Moran’s Lawyer

I received the following two press releases from the Saratoga Springs Republican Chair, Mike Brandi.

The first, dated July 3, explains the legal action Brandi took after the Saratoga Springs City Council, in a 3-2 vote, agreed to pay a $60,993 bill to a Manhattan attorney hired by Saratoga Springs Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran and his Deputy Stacey Connors to represent them in an investigation into the on-call pay scandal.

The second release, dated July 5, concerns the Saratoga County Supreme Court decision to issue a temporary restraining order to prohibit payments to Moran’s and Connor’s attorney “during the pendency of ongoing litigation.”

Saratoga Springs Republican Chairman Mike Brandi Files Emergency Litigation Against City Council Over $60,000 Payment Approval

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — July 3, 2024 — Mike Brandi, Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee, has taken urgent legal action this morning by filing litigation in the Saratoga County Supreme Court challenging the recent approval by the City Council last night to disburse over $60,000 in payments to Dillon Moran’s private attorneys in relation to the on-call payment investigation. Specifically, Moran ran up over $60,000 in attorneys fees in six weeks, with his New York City-based attorneys charging over $1000/hour. 

The litigation, filed under Article 78 of the CPLR, seeks a temporary restraining order to halt any payments by the City during the litigation process. Brandi contends that these payments violate provisions of the New York State Constitution prohibiting gifts to individuals, as well as several State and Local Laws.

In a statement, Mike Brandi expressed his commitment to upholding taxpayer rights and constitutional principles: “While litigation is not our preferred course, I view it as a duty to defend the taxpayers of Saratoga Springs and the integrity of our State Constitution. The City Council’s decision last night amounted to a $60,000 gift to Commissioner Moran, directly contradicting our state’s foundational principles.”

Chris Obstarczyk, of the Obstarczyk Firm, attorney for Mike Brandi, emphasized the responsibility of local government in managing taxpayer funds: “It is essential for local authorities to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and adherence to legal standards and upholding our constitution. I am honored to support Mr. Brandi in rectifying this situation. I trust that the Supreme Court will intervene to put an end to this misallocation of public funds and unconstitutional action of the City Council.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saratoga County Supreme Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order Prohibiting Payments to Moran’s Private Attorneys
Saratoga Springs, NY – July 5, 2024:

The Saratoga County Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order today, effectively prohibiting any payments to the private attorneys of Moran during the pendency of ongoing litigation. This action comes in response to emergency litigation filed by Saratoga Springs Republican Committee Chairman, Mike Brandi earlier this week.
Chairman Brandi’s lawsuit argued that the over $60,000 in payments to Moran’s private attorneys were unconstitutional and that Moran had a conflict of interest which should have precluded him from voting on matters related to these payments. The litigation seeks to permanently stop any such payments and ensure taxpayer funds are used appropriately and lawfully.
In response to the court’s decision, Chairman Mike Brandi stated, “This is the first step in halting this unconstitutional misappropriation of taxpayer funds. We are committed to ensuring that the public’s money is used transparently and in accordance with the law.“