In response to remarks made at a press conference yesterday morning in which a Nassau County legislator charged a law firm with "obvious fraud" in handling county business, the firm yesterday afternoon filed a $10 million defamation action against the lawmaker.
Glen Cove-based Crowe Deegan alleged that Peter J. Schmitt, in his capacity as the Republican minority leader of the county legislature, injured the firm's reputation when he said it had received some $600,000 in unauthorized legal fees for county business that the firm "did not perform."
Mr. Schmitt also stated that Crowe Deegan had "contributed tens of thousands of dollars" to the campaign of Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat.
Crowe Deegan, which employs about 10 attorneys, filed its lawsuit seeking a retraction and damages in Nassau County Supreme Court.
Here from the New York Law Journal.