A feud between two Derby officials has spilled from the bowels of the Derby parking garage into the halls of federal court in New Haven.
Leo Moscato, Jr., the director of the Derby Parking Authority, filed a lawsuit Nov. 30 against John Dorosh, the parking authority chairman. Moscato claims that his civil rights were violated when Dorosh allegedly assaulted him after a parking authority meeting Oct. 13.
Moscato filed a police report after the incident. In an interview with the Valley Indy in early November, Moscato questioned why Derby police had not made an arrest.
“There is a witness who provided a statement, and I am not sure why nothing has happened yet,” Moscato said.
Derby police have not made an arrest and have said they are still investigating.
Dorosh is a city police officer, as well as a downtown property owner. Moscato is also a downtown property owner. Both are native Derby residents.
“Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on October 13, 2010, in the lower level of the Olivia Street stairwell at the Derby Parking Authority building in Derby, Connecticut, the defendant maliciously, viciously and brutally assaulted and battered the plaintiff, slamming the plaintiff’s head into a concrete wall,” the three-page court filing states.
“As a result, the plaintiff has suffered concussion-type injuries to his head and injuries to his neck, all of which have required medical care and treatment.”
A copy of the lawsuit is posted below. Article continues after the document.
Moscato is an employee of the parking authority. As director, he runs the day-to-day operations.
Dorosh volunteers as a member of the authority supervising Moscato and the parking authority members.
Dorosh has denied striking Moscato.
“I am embarrassed for the City of Derby, for the Parking Authority, my family and myself, therefore I will not address Mr. Moscato’s ridiculous accusation that I assaulted him. It did not happen,” Dorosh told the Valley Indy in October.
The two have been feuding for some time, often making for tense parking authority meetings.
Dorosh told the Valley Indy this year that Moscato became paranoid after being arrested in an Internet sex sting in Naugatuck, where police said he arranged a meeting with an undercover police officer posing online as a Craiglist prostitute. Initially charged with attempting to patronize a prostitute, Moscato eventually pleaded guilty to breach of peace.
Dorosh said he began questioning whether Moscato was fulfilling his day-to-day duties at the parking authority. Dorosh said he also questioned cell phone bills Moscato submitted for reimbursement, saying the Parking Authority was not properly managing the expense.
Moscato accused Dorosh of abusing his position as parking authority chairman by screaming at enforcement officers and refusing to pay parking meters outside his properties.
Mayor Anthony Staffieri met with both men after the alleged assault in October and said city officials were keeping an eye on the situation.
Dorosh is still listed as parking authority chairman on the city’s website and Moscato is still the director.
Tony Szewczyk, a former Alderman who serves on the Parking Authority, told the Valley Indy earlier this year that the conflict between the two men was noticeable in meetings.
“They’re like an old married couple,” Szewczyk said at the time.
