BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced July 31 that LAZ Parking Limited LLC will pay $5.6 million after allegations of failing to detect and deter millions of dollars in theft from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
“LAZ employees skimmed millions of dollars in cash from MBTA parking facilities, robbing the public of funds we need to invest in transportation,” Healey said. “Through this settlement we’re recovering millions of dollars for the state and forcing the company to change its bidding practices.”
Of the monetary settlement, $1.1 million will go to the commonwealth and $4.5 million will go to the MBTA. The assurance of discontinuance, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, resolves allegations of failing to implement revenue controls at 13 MBTA parking lots and failing to properly live up to its contract with the MBTA.
“The MBTA is pleased to have reached a resolution that makes the MBTA whole for the losses it sustained,” said MassDOT/MBTA general counsel John Englander. “The MBTA is appreciative of the attorney general working with us in our efforts to ensure that our private partners are held to their contractual obligations.”
Handling the case for Massachusetts were assistant attorneys general Cassandra Arriaza, Jeffrey Walker and division chief Gillian Feiner with assistance from paralegal Megan Lima, all of Healey’s False Claims Division. Kevin McCarthy, chief of Healey’s Civil Investigations Division, also assisted.