Cushman & Wakefield Added To Suit Alleging Bribery Scheme

A lawsuit filed by Staten Island businessman Mazen Dayem alleges that Cushman & Wakefield and the city government failed to properly oversee their employees, leading to a bribery scheme that cost him an $8M real estate contract. According to the lawsuit, Dayem was retained by the owners of a 1.3M SF office building to consult on leasing the space to city agencies. Dayem was supposed to earn $8M from the contracts, but claims he was cut out of the deals after refusing to pay a $250K bribe to former city real estate head Jesse Hamilton and Cushman Vice Chairman of Brokerage Sales Diana Boutross.

The lawsuit, which was initially filed in July, has been updated to include the city government and Cushman & Wakefield as defendants. Dayem's attorneys claim that the city failed to investigate prior complaints about Hamilton's conduct and that Cushman failed to adequately supervise or discipline Boutross. The updated complaint also alleges that the building's owners breached their contract with Dayem by working directly with Boutross.

The allegations against Hamilton and Boutross are part of a larger corruption scandal involving the NYC government's real estate department. Hamilton was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy and pleaded not guilty. The lawsuit is the latest in a series of allegations against the agency, which has been accused of corruption and wrongdoing during Mayor Eric Adams' administration.

Dayem's attorneys are seeking up to $52M in compensation from the defendants, including Cushman & Wakefield, Boutross, Hamilton, and the city government. The lawsuit claims that Dayem's business relationship with the landlords was irreparably damaged as a result of the alleged bribery scheme. Dayem's attorney, Alex Estis, said that his client is fighting for his reputation and was wronged by the defendants.

The case is ongoing, and spokespeople for the Department for Citywide Administrative Services and Cushman & Wakefield have not responded to requests for comment. Boutross and Hamilton have also not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit is a significant development in the ongoing corruption scandal involving the NYC government's real estate department.

The lawsuit highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability in the city's real estate dealings. Dayem's attorneys claim that the city failed to take adequate steps to prevent corruption and wrongdoing, and that Cushman & Wakefield failed to properly supervise its employees. The case is likely to have significant implications for the city's real estate industry and the ongoing efforts to root out corruption in the NYC government.

The plaintiff's attorney, Alex Estis, stated that his client is willing to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of the case, not just to seek justice for himself, but also to prevent similar incidents from happening to others in the future. This article is based on reporting by Bisnow.