Lacorte v. Hudacs
Plaintiffs Kenneth P. Lacorte and Lacorte Electrical Construction previously admitted to violating New York State Labor Laws by underpaying employees on public works projects, later pleading guilty to grand larceny. They filed a § 1983 complaint, alleging various defendants conspired to deprive them of due process by initiating unfounded investigations, distributing defamatory information, and drafting legislation to declare them "non-responsible" bidders, thus disqualifying them from public works contracts. Earlier motions to dismiss by state and union defendants were granted. This decision addresses motions by the Albany County defendants (County of Albany, Michael Polovina, Richard Meyers, and Frank Commisso) to dismiss the complaint or for judgment on the pleadings. The Court found that plaintiffs sufficiently alleged a cause of action for violation of due process rights as low bidders on an Albany County Airport public works contract and denied dismissal of conspiracy allegations. Defamation allegations were also found sufficiently pleaded as an invasion of the Due Process liberty interest in reputation. Finally, the Court denied legislative immunity to defendants Meyer and Commisso, characterizing their actions in awarding the contract as administrative. Therefore, all motions by the Albany defendants were denied.