Case Description
In a suit filed by the Attorney General against the Director of the Suffolk County Department of Real Estate, alleging improper conduct in connection with a purchase of real estate by the County, the New York appeals court dismissed arguments by the defendants that the Attorney-General may invoke the state’s “Tweed” Law (addressing public corruption), only when a municipality otherwise refuses to act upon a viable basis for recovery, or upon allegations that every relevant municipal official was involved in the targeted wrongful conduct. The court held, “In sum, the Tweed Law vests the Attorney-General with the discretionary authority to seek the recovery of money or property (other than real property) belonging to the State or a municipality, or to recover damages or other compensation for the same, or both, pursuant to any viable action or proceeding at law or in equity available to the State or municipality.”