The Connecticut Supreme Court has heard the case of a real estate developer who claims he lost a $1 billion waterfront project in Bridgeport because of former Mayor Joseph Ganim’s corruption, The Associated Press reports.
The state justices heard the case Tuesday but did not immediately rule.
Fairfield resident Alex Conroy alleges his company, Bridgeport Harbour Place I LLC, lost a contract with the city in 2001 to develop the Steel Point area, after he refused to pay bribes and kickbacks to Ganim and his associates. He claims illegal activities by Ganim and others violated state antitrust laws by stifling competition for commercial development in the city.
The antitrust allegations are separate from similar claims, including fraudulent representation, involving Steel Point in another lawsuit in which Conroy was awarded $1.4 million from Ganim and others in 2008. But Conroy’s antitrust claims were dismissed for lack of evidence by a Superior Court judge, whose decision was upheld by the state Appellate Court.
Conroy appealed to the Supreme Court, saying his case should be heard by a jury.
“We may win or lose, but at least we should be heard,” Conroy said after the hearing.
Ganim, who served seven years in federal prison for corruption and was released last year, denies Conroy’s allegations. He also attended Tuesday’s court hearing.
